Young trees need protection... from just about everything
For most people, the only time we think about trees being in danger is when we read newspaper headlines or see television news coverage of forest fires. But as a nurseryman, protecting trees is something I think about a great deal!
Taking the time and effort to protect trees makes sense for three important reasons.
(1) You're protecting the life of a living plant that is giving off essential oxygen into your environment. That should be a good enough reason alone. I believe it's no coincidence that you really do breathe easier when you're in the company of trees!
(2) You're avoiding the time-wasting frustration of replacing dead saplings that didn't make it through the first few years of life. It can be disheartening to see young trees that you lovingly planted and now they're withered and dying because of drought, weather damage or wildlife feasting.
(3) You're protecting your financial investment. Trees cost money. You
might have to spend a little money to protect your investment, but it certainly pays dividends; maybe better than your stock portfolio right now.
Every tree is at its most vulnerable during its first two years of life. What factors should you consider when thinking about protecting your trees? In a long and helpful Internet article prepared by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the writers suggest you ask yourself these questions:
(A) What are the threats to the tree? Are there rabbits, mice, deer, or
pets in the area? Will anyone be mowing, weed eating, or spraying chemicals around your trees?
(B) How long is protection required? Tree guards can be designed for a long, maintenance-free life or to disintegrate after a few years. Some tree guards will themselves restrict and damage the tree if left in position too long.
(C) Does the guard allow access to the tree for weeding, loosening of tree ties and so on?
You can find the entire article at http://www.btcv.org/skills/tree_planting/tp7.html and you can link directly by going to my website and clicking on "The Plant Man" then finding this column.
As for drought, It is essential to ensure your new young trees are getting sufficient water, and you'll need to monitor this for at least the first two years of your tree's life. But, as I've mentioned in an earlier column, it's possible to damage a tree by over-watering. You should receive watering instructions when you buy your tree. If you're not sure, you're welcome to e-mail me and ask my advice for your specific trees. A quick rule of thumb for watering trees is to water one
hour per inch diameter of the tree, according to Patrick Weicherding at the University of Minnesota Extension. As he points out, tree roots extend away from the tree at least as far as the tree is tall, and in most cases much farther. Place the hose at or beyond the drip line for the most effective watering.
To protect against damage from deer and other critters, you have two main choices: a repellent that keeps them away from the vicinity of the tree for a short time (usually several months) or some kind of guard/protector that wraps around the young tree trunk. A word of caution: As the tree grows, of course the diameter of the trunk increases. The better choice is a tree protector instead of a guard or wrap. Protectors are usually larger diameter allowing the tree to grow freely.
I recently found a tree protector that seems to work very well in fending off deer and other wildlife while promoting a good moisture build-up. I'll be happy to send some information if you e-mail me, or, again, you can go to this column on my website.
The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to steve@landsteward.org or mail to: Steve Jones, "The Plant Man", P.O. Box 686, McMinnville, TN 37111. For resources and additional information, including archived columns, visit www.landsteward.org
QUESTION: "I read your article about "ticks" in a St. Louis Suburban Journal, and need information regarding the special tweezers used to remove the critters. I have not run across tweezers designated as such, so can you describe what to look for." Ed.
ANSWER: Ed, There are several resources for tweezers that are designed specifically to remove ticks. Petsmart has an ad at their website for Groomax Tick Tweezers for $5.99. They might be available at the retail stores, too. You can also go to http://www.ticktweezers.com where you'll find "Dr. Schick's Tick Tweezers" for $2.49. The website claims the tweezers remove "the entire tick leaving no mouth parts behind to infect the host" and they work on humans and pets. You could also try http://www.tooltron.com/productpages/pet_supplies/grooming/tt65 where they sell a pair of tweezers presumably intended for use on animals for $2.75.
