Cultural Practices: Caring for your Trees and Plants
Make your green space appear similar to a botanic garden.
Learn what you can do to preset your leafy friends the opportunity to thrive!
Did you know that your decisions have an effect on your plant? Well, given that, let’s talk about how to determine which decisions are best. Take into consideration majority of the following questions. Please don’t feel overwhelmed, take your time figuring things out. Relax.
Photo taken at the Los Angeles Arboretum, Arcadia CA.
Planning Ahead: Where and What to Plant?
Location
proper location will have a great effect to prevent any issues with your home or other trees
I often hear people complain about their fears of roots getting into their pipes or roots lifting concrete. Visit the watering part of this page to understand why trees do this and how to prevent it from happening.
How much sun will the plant receive? Is there anything growing that could possibly shade out the plant or plants that are already present?
See the following page for more pointers on tree location: itrees.com
What kind of soil do you have?
Dig about 6 inches to 1 ft. into the ground. Collect a good fist sized handful of the soil. Add some water into the clump and squish!! How does it feel?
If it’s sticky and you can mold it into shapes: congratulations! you have clay soil.
Clay soils require longer, slower irrigation for lower roots to receive water.
If it forms a weak shape: Wahoo! You have sandy soil.
Sandy soils provide excellent drainage. You may need to require more frequently throughout the week.
Check out this link for more info on how to identify your soil: USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
Routine Maintenance: how to care for your plants
Watering and getting to know your soil
Depending on the soil type, you may need to alter your watering schedule based on the climate, weather, and species of tree or plant. Also, knowing the species of tree is important.
If you have clay soil you are going to want to water slowly, and for a longer period of time.
If you have sandy soil you are going to need to water more often.
Use a tool specifically made to monitor soil moisture: Purchase a hydrometer here
ALWAYS WATER INFREQUENTLY DEEP & THOROUGH
Pipelines and Trees: A Common Misconception
“tree roots interfere with pipelines”- not always, they do not seek out copper and PVC pipes
by watering deeply, the roots will not seek out other sources of water
Pests and Disease Management
Pest and Diseases are dependent on their hosts and environment. As a grower, you manipulate the soil, humidity, water, nutrients and many other attributes in efforts to favor the growth of your plant. You can also modify the plant’s environment into a habitat that is less hospitable to most horticultural pests and disease.
Quick Tips:
aphids and other leaf-sucking pests like tender young leaves. Fertilizing your plant will cause these attractive young leaves to emerge
soft bodied insects can be sprayed with a heavy stream of water for a quick removal
organic pesticides are not always “better”
selective pesticides are environmentally friendly and more effective than broad-spectrum pesticides
spider mites like drought stressed plants
sometimes it’s too late to treat with chemical efforts, use a sticky trap to collect adults. It’s also so satisfying seeing their bodies stuck to the paper >;)
make the habitat hospitable to other organisms that feed or kill pests and disease
REACH OUT!! I can help you identify what’s going on in your garden, tree or house plant. Correct identification is key to proper pest and disease management.
Pruning Trees: how to achieve an arborist approved haircut
There are correct and incorrect ways to prune your tree. Incorrect pruning practices cause trees to become stressed, ill, unsightly, dysfunctional, and a liability. Bad pruning jobs require more frequent pruning than a properly pruned tree.
Link to University of Minnesota-pruning guidelines
When pruning trees DO NOT COMMIT THE FOLLOWING:
1. Leaving branch stubs
2. Leaving branch stubs
3. Making unnecessary heading cuts
4. Cutting off the branch collar (do not make a flush cut)
5. Top or lion tail trees (stripping a branch from the inside leaving foliage just at the ends)
6. Removing more than 25% of the foliage of a single branch
7. Removing more than 25% of the total tree foliage in a single year
8. Damaging other parts of the tree while pruning
9. Pruning without reason
10. Climbing tree using climbing spikes
Abiotic Influences: The things you can’t control but you can help your plant adapt to them
Climate and temperature
The area in which you reside in will determine additional factors. For example, if it rains a lot in your area, you probably don’t need to water as much. Refer to your local university or local government agency (agriculture, horticulture, urban forestry department) for specific recommendations in you area. Using these localized resources will give you an accurate representation of what you can do to prepare against pest and diseases in your area. They can also provide access to your community in efforts to build a greener, more sustainable neighborhood.
