For:
By: Daniel E. Mullins
Extension Horticulture Agent
Tree Maintenance and Replacement – Don’t
Overreact
Tree planting and maintenance is well underway as many local residents are busy replacing those lost during the storm and providing care for others that were damaged. We learned some hard lessons and are now more aware of those species that tolerate wind better, as well as the importance of properly locating trees in the landscape. I don’t expect to see many large growing trees planted within a few feet of houses or sidewalks any more.
Some of the hurricane damage to homes and other structures was due to falling trees or branches, rather than direct wind damage. When something is so obvious, I fear that many homeowners will overreact and eliminate too many trees from their landscape.
It is up to each affected resident to evaluate their landscape and make some decisions as to which trees will be kept and where new trees will be planted. A close look at many situations where damage by trees occurred reveals some reasons other than just high wind. Some were simply too close to the house. Some were in poor health or were structurally weak, and others were of species with low wind tolerance.
I have heard a few homeowners comment that they would just remove all trees from the yard that provide a remote possibility of causing any damage. This is an extreme reaction for several reasons.
Trees are good for the environment. They help to clean the air and provide oxygen. Many wildlife species depend upon certain tree species for food and shelter. And, anyone with a previously shady lot who has most trees removed is in for a shock when next summer’s power bills arrive. The cooling effect of well placed trees is tremendous.
Trees might have protected as many structures as they damaged during the storm. There are many cases where trees received damage downwind from houses, leaving them intact.
Talk to someone in Jay or one of the other communities in the northern portion of our coastal counties. They will describe high winds that roared across open fields for six hours. With no trees to absorb or redirect such wind near homes, damage was severe far from the storm’s landfall.
Consider the need for diversity when selecting the kind of trees that will be used for replacements. Once the studies from Ivan are complete we will find that only a few species received high marks. Preliminary results indicate that the list of wind resistant tree species will be short and will include live oak, magnolia, crape myrtle and a few others.
Though these are popular species, we need more diversity than that. Consider several other kinds that grow to various sizes at maturity, as well as a good mix of native or well adapted evergreen and deciduous species.
Question of the Week: I have removed a tree and the stump was ground about six inches below the soil surface. Most of the stump grindings have been removed and soil was used to fill in and level the surface. I would like to plant another tree in the same spot. Is this advisable?
Answer: No, plant the new tree several feet
from this spot if possible. Though
you removed a portion of the stump base, the root crown and large roots
remain. This dead wood will
decompose over time as soil borne flora and fauna do their job. It is not safe to set a new plant in the
soil where so much microbial activity is occurring. These microbes generally tie up
nitrogen, converting it to proteins.
This is known as nitrogen robbing, and often results in stunted, yellow
plants. The
nitrogen will eventually be released in an organic form as decomposition nears
completion and the organisms die.
Depending upon the size of the stump and environmental conditions,
several months to several years are required before it is safe to plant in the
exact spot where the stump is located.