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Trees: Proper care yields big benefits
Trees provide many economic and environmental benefits to the world, making tree planting and preservation an important task for earth-conscious people and communities.
With many states and communities preparing to hold Arbor Day festivities April 25, various service groups are turning their attention to planting millions of new trees to celebrate the day.
"Unfortunately, almost all of them die," said Susan Lilly, educational goods and services director for the International Society of Arboriculture in Champaign, Ill.
Of the trees planted on Arbor Day, most of which are small seedling trees with little root growth, about 90 percent do not survive, she said.
The trees die for many reasons, she said. Environmental elements, such as grass and weeds, often overpower the trees, and others are simply forgotten or cut down accidentally by lawn mowers.
The best way to correct this, she said, is to plant slightly larger trees, with at least a 1½-inch trunk base and a larger root system. These trees will have a greater chance at survival and will be able to grow into mature trees.
But it’s also important not to plant a tree that is too big, said Steve Schwab, city arborist in Lincoln, Neb.
Schwab said transporting a tree with a larger trunk base will cause the loss of about 80 percent of its roots during the process. It would take that tree about five or six years to rebuild the roots it had before the move, he said.
In comparison, he said, trees with a base of about 2 inches will retain more of their roots and grow to be as big as larger-trunk trees in the same time frame.
“You’ve invested less money, but in five years, you’ll have a larger tree,” he said.
After planting the tree, Schwab said, proper maintenance is important to ensure the trees survive and grow. The easiest ways to do this, he said, is to properly water the tree.
When watering, turn the water on so it trickles through the hose, he said. Have the water run so it reaches the drip line of the tree, which is the distance the branches and roots extend beyond the trunk. Although watering close to the base is somewhat helpful, watering farther away will ensure more roots are able to absorb the water.
Another good practice is to put mulch around a tree to help it maintain moisture and protect the tree from other elements, such as weeds and grass, that are competing for the same nutrients.
It’s also important, Lilly said, for communities to make a practice of taking better care of existing trees because the benefits from larger, mature trees can reap greater returns for communities.
For example, home and business owners who strategically plant trees can expect to cut their heating and cooling costs throughout the year.
In the summer months, tree shade along windows and walls can reduce air conditioning costs by 50 percent, according to the American Public Power Association.
In addition, the same trees that provide shade in the summer provide wind barriers in the winter, reducing heating costs by 20 percent to 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
The best place to plant trees for energy efficiency, Schwab said, is on the west and south sides of buildings.
And when it comes to picking the breed of tree, Lilly said, few trees can universally survive in all parts of the nation.
Laura Chapman is a reporter at the
Lincoln Journal Star in Lincoln, Neb.,
lchapman@journalstar.com.
Tree links
How to plant a tree
1. Dig a shallow, broad planting hole as deep as the tree’s rootball.
2. Identify the trunk flare, which is where the roots spread at the base of the tree.
3. Remove the tree from its container. Cutting the sides of the container makes this easier.
4. Place the tree at proper height in the hole, so the roots can be within the top 12 inches of soil to get more oxygen.
5. Straighten the tree in the hole, so it grows properly.
6. Fill the hole, packing the soil gently but firmly around the rootball.
7. Stake the tree if necessary to keep it standing. This might not be necessary in all places.
8. Mulch the base of the tree to help it retain moisture, moderate soil temperatures and reduce the amount of competing grass and weeds.
9. Provide follow-up care, watering the mulch once a week, or more when mulch dries during warm seasons.
How to pick a tree
1. Soil conditions: The amount of quality soil in a yard will determine whether a tree can survive. Arborists can take and test soil samples.
2. Exposure: The amount of sunlight available to the tree will also determine if it can grow.
3. Human activity: The top five causes of death for trees involve interaction with humans. Some places may have too much activity for a tree to survive.
4. Drainage: Areas with poor drainage can make it difficult for a tree’s roots to absorb enough oxygen.
5. Space constraints: Trees need a set amount of space to grow. Make sure there is enough to suit the breed.
6. Hardiness: Determine the temperature and geography of the region before making a selection to see what will best fit.
High- and low-quality trees
High-quality trees have:
Low-quality trees have:
America’s national tree
In December 2004, President George W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress naming the oak tree as the nation’s national tree.
The tree was selected in a four-month-long open voting process hosted by the Arbor Day Foundation. The tree received more than 100,000 votes, beating the runner-up, the redwood, by 20,000 votes.
Oak trees come in many varities that grow throughout the United States.
Sources: International Society of Arboriculture, Arbor Day Foundation
Trees provide many economic and environmental benefits to the world, making tree planting and preservation an important task for earth-conscious people and communities.
With many states and communities preparing to hold Arbor Day festivities April 25, various service groups are turning their attention to planting millions of new trees to celebrate the day.
"Unfortunately, almost all of them die," said Susan Lilly, educational goods and services director for the International Society of Arboriculture in Champaign, Ill.
Of the trees planted on Arbor Day, most of which are small seedling trees with little root growth, about 90 percent do not survive, she said.
The trees die for many reasons, she said. Environmental elements, such as grass and weeds, often overpower the trees, and others are simply forgotten or cut down accidentally by lawn mowers.
The best way to correct this, she said, is to plant slightly larger trees, with at least a 1½-inch trunk base and a larger root system. These trees will have a greater chance at survival and will be able to grow into mature trees.
But it’s also important not to plant a tree that is too big, said Steve Schwab, city arborist in Lincoln, Neb.
Schwab said transporting a tree with a larger trunk base will cause the loss of about 80 percent of its roots during the process. It would take that tree about five or six years to rebuild the roots it had before the move, he said.
In comparison, he said, trees with a base of about 2 inches will retain more of their roots and grow to be as big as larger-trunk trees in the same time frame.
“You’ve invested less money, but in five years, you’ll have a larger tree,” he said.
After planting the tree, Schwab said, proper maintenance is important to ensure the trees survive and grow. The easiest ways to do this, he said, is to properly water the tree.
When watering, turn the water on so it trickles through the hose, he said. Have the water run so it reaches the drip line of the tree, which is the distance the branches and roots extend beyond the trunk. Although watering close to the base is somewhat helpful, watering farther away will ensure more roots are able to absorb the water.
Another good practice is to put mulch around a tree to help it maintain moisture and protect the tree from other elements, such as weeds and grass, that are competing for the same nutrients.
It’s also important, Lilly said, for communities to make a practice of taking better care of existing trees because the benefits from larger, mature trees can reap greater returns for communities.
For example, home and business owners who strategically plant trees can expect to cut their heating and cooling costs throughout the year.
In the summer months, tree shade along windows and walls can reduce air conditioning costs by 50 percent, according to the American Public Power Association.
In addition, the same trees that provide shade in the summer provide wind barriers in the winter, reducing heating costs by 20 percent to 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
The best place to plant trees for energy efficiency, Schwab said, is on the west and south sides of buildings.
And when it comes to picking the breed of tree, Lilly said, few trees can universally survive in all parts of the nation.
Laura Chapman is a reporter at the
Lincoln Journal Star in Lincoln, Neb.,
lchapman@journalstar.com.
Tree links
- Arbor Day Foundation, arborday.org: The Web site has educational tools for children and adults to learn more about trees. It also offers a store from which to purchase trees and has membership options for people to get involved in various tree protection groups.
- Planting a tree, tree-planting.com: Provides a step-by-step procedure on how to plant a tree, from picking out the best breed to care and maintenance.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/TreePtg.html: Tips on how to best plant trees and pick the best types.
- International Society of Arboriculture, treesaregood.org: The society’s Web site gives people information about the value of trees to a community and what the best types are for a given area.
How to plant a tree
1. Dig a shallow, broad planting hole as deep as the tree’s rootball.
2. Identify the trunk flare, which is where the roots spread at the base of the tree.
3. Remove the tree from its container. Cutting the sides of the container makes this easier.
4. Place the tree at proper height in the hole, so the roots can be within the top 12 inches of soil to get more oxygen.
5. Straighten the tree in the hole, so it grows properly.
6. Fill the hole, packing the soil gently but firmly around the rootball.
7. Stake the tree if necessary to keep it standing. This might not be necessary in all places.
8. Mulch the base of the tree to help it retain moisture, moderate soil temperatures and reduce the amount of competing grass and weeds.
9. Provide follow-up care, watering the mulch once a week, or more when mulch dries during warm seasons.
How to pick a tree
1. Soil conditions: The amount of quality soil in a yard will determine whether a tree can survive. Arborists can take and test soil samples.
2. Exposure: The amount of sunlight available to the tree will also determine if it can grow.
3. Human activity: The top five causes of death for trees involve interaction with humans. Some places may have too much activity for a tree to survive.
4. Drainage: Areas with poor drainage can make it difficult for a tree’s roots to absorb enough oxygen.
5. Space constraints: Trees need a set amount of space to grow. Make sure there is enough to suit the breed.
6. Hardiness: Determine the temperature and geography of the region before making a selection to see what will best fit.
High- and low-quality trees
High-quality trees have:
- Enough roots to support healthy growth.
- Trunks free of mechanical wounds or wounds from incorrect pruning.
- Strong forms with well-spaced, firmly attached branches.
Low-quality trees have:
- Crushed or circling roots in a small rootball or container.
- Trunks with wounds from mechanical impacts or poor pruning.
- Weak forms in which multiple stems squeeze against each other and branches squeeze against the trunk.
America’s national tree
In December 2004, President George W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress naming the oak tree as the nation’s national tree.
The tree was selected in a four-month-long open voting process hosted by the Arbor Day Foundation. The tree received more than 100,000 votes, beating the runner-up, the redwood, by 20,000 votes.
Oak trees come in many varities that grow throughout the United States.
Sources: International Society of Arboriculture, Arbor Day Foundation
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