 Trees
play a critical role in our lives. Trees improve air quality,
improve water quality, save energy, decrease utility bills, reduce
noise, minimize water run off, and enhance property values and
personal health. Trees make our towns and cities more attractive
places in which to live, attracting more residents, more businesses
and more tourists. Citizens, including businessmen and women,
benefit by conserving existing trees and by supporting programs
that plant more trees within their community.
In the Acadiana area due to its hurricane vulnerability,
citizens must be especially aware of the proper selection,
planting and maintenance of trees.
SELECTION
When landscaping a new home or replacing a tree lost to damage
or disease, tree selection is one of the most important investment
decisions a homeowner makes. Since most trees have the potential
to outlive the people who plant them, the impact of tree selection
is one that can influence a lifetime.
To select the correct tree choose by:
| Form/Shape |
according to what you want the tree
to do. The benefit will be fewer maintenance costs and
an increase in the tree’s landscape value. |
| Size |
according to mature size (both above
and below ground) in order to fit the tree to the planting
space. |
| Soil Condition |
according to the soil pH and fertility. |
| Exposure |
according to the type of sun and wind
exposure it will receive. |
| Drainage |
according to the amount of drainage.
Trees need oxygen to develop and thrive. Poor drainage
can deplete the oxygen in the soil. |
| Human Activity |
according to the amount of human activity
that will affect the tree. Statistics show that people
are a large factor in tree death. |
| Space Constraints |
according to the space available to
the tree for growth to maturity (above and below ground). |
| Hardiness |
according to the tree’s ability
to survive in the extreme temperatures of the area (your
zone range). |
PLANTING
Trees planted correctly will grow twice as fast and live
at least twice as long as one that is incorrectly planted.
Containerized trees and transplanted trees should be planted
in an area that is dug or tilled one foot deep and at least
5 times the diameter of the root ball.
If transplanting, be sure to keep the trees roots in soil.
Do not bare root it.
Always handle the tree by ball, not by the trunk or branches.
Do not let the root ball dry out.
Prevent root girdling by vertically cutting any roots that show tendencies
to circle the root ball.
After the preparation, place the tree in the hole, pack soil firmly but
not tightly around the root ball. Water the soil and place a protective
3-foot circle of mulch around the tree.
Keep the soil moist but not soaked after planting. Water
the tree at least once a week, except for rain, or more frequently
during hot weather. Dry soil below the surface of the mulch
indicates time to water. As temperatures moderate in mid-fall,
less frequent watering is required.
Mulch acts as a blanket to hold moisture, protects against
harsh soil temperatures and reduces grass and weed growth.
Good mulch choices are leaf litter, pine straw, shredded bark,
peat moss and wood chips. Ideally, apply a two to four inch
layer of mulch. More than four inches can cause a problem with
gas exchange necessary for root growth. Do not cover the actual
trunk of the tree because it may cause decay of the living
bark at the base of the tree. Leave a one to two inch wide
mulch-free area at the base of the tree to eliminate this problem.
Planting a tree properly grown and dug at the nursery will
not require staking. Studies reveal that trees grow more quickly
and develop stronger trunks and root systems if they are not
staked at the initial planting. Protective staking may be called
for where the tree is subject to lawn mower damage, vandalism
or windy conditions. In this case, stake with two stakes and
use wide flexible tie material to hold the tree upright, provide
flexibility and minimize injury to the trunk. Support staking
should be removed after the first year of growth. Protective
staking can be left in place as long as necessary.
Reference: International Society
of Arboriculture, The National Arbor Day Website & The
International Society of Arboriculture
MAINTENANCE
Regular maintenance of mature trees will help your trees
to be more storm resistant and will prevent problems that once
develop are costly to cure. Regular mulching, fertilizing and
pruning promote tree health and vigor.
| Mulching |
Maintain a two to four inch layer of
loosely packed mulch over the entire root system. Do not
use plastic as it interferes with the gas exchange between
soil and air. |
| Fertilizing |
Determine the soil conditions to insure
proper fertilization. Garden centers and the LSU Cooperative
Extension Service can provide you with soil analysis. Once
this is determined garden centers/certified arborists/plant
care professionals can advise you on the appropriate fertilizer
for your location. Remember that tree root systems extend
from two to three times the size of the leaf canopy and
the major portion of actively growing roots are located
outside the tree’s drip line. |
| Pruning |
Determine the overall condition of
your trees. Dead branches and totally dead trees should
be removed entirely and as quickly as possible. A sickly
tree, low in vigor with significant rotten or decayed areas
in the trunk may need removal if it poses a threat to buildings.
Trees one sided or leaning need selective pruning to balance
the weight distribution of the canopy. Unevenly distributed
tree weight may lead to the tree toppling over after periods
of prolonged heavy rain. Remove branches that hang over
houses/buildings near the roof. In heavy wind, flailing
branches can cause heavy damage the roofs. |
Reference: Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter
Horticulturist
For further information and references please refer to the
following web addresses:
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