Milestones and Memories with Trees by Susan Lee

 

Photo by Johnny Lee

Planting trees has long been used to mark special milestones and remember our loved ones. Whether it celebrates a newborn or marks losing a loved one, trees have been important in our lives.

Early Tree Sales are Starting Up by Nancy Shepard

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb

Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)  Photo: Arbor Valley Nursery

While it’s still only February, some Colorado communities are taking early orders for trees they provide to citizens free or at a low cost. Arbor Day is Friday, April 29^th and here are just a few examples of where you can get trees. Check with your local County or City for information specific to your area.

Yes, you need to water your trees - by Professor James Klett, CSU

Tree Care Guide - Denver Water Board

Tree care suggestions for winter watering from Professor James Klett, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University.

Focus on the most vulnerable trees:
1. Not all trees face the same threat from the drought and dry weather conditions.
2. Trees planted within the last 3 years should be the first you water.
3.  Next should be evergreen trees since their needles continue to demand water over the winter.  They are going to desiccate and dry quickly with all the foliage, so evergreens are more critical than deciduous trees.

4.   Water any trees with shallow root systems like: birch, maple, linden, alder, hornbeam, dogwood, willow and mountain ash.

Grow a Tree for Arbor Day by Vicky Spelman

Courtesy Good Housekeeping

Arbor Day is observed in the United States on Friday, April 30, 2021

“Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.”  ~Sterling Morton 19th Century American journalist and politician

Arbor Day is a special day that is set aside throughout the world to raise awareness of trees and the important role that they play in our environment.

As important as it is to be planting a tree or two, it is equally as important to plant one correctly.  Arbor Day should be about growing trees, not just planting them.  Here is a guide for planting and growing your tree:

CSU - Planting Tips

1. Plant top of root ball slightly above ground level so the root collar (or flare) is visible one inch above final grade.

2. Set root ball on solid ground – not loose backfill to eliminate settling.

3. Backfill the hole with the original soil.

4. Fertilizing at planting time is not necessary.

5. Best planting times are from March 15th to June 15th and from September 1st to October 15th.

6. Use mulch after planting to protect roots, hold soil moisture, reduce weeds, and provide a protective barrier from the lawn mower and weed whackers.  Mulch should be 3 to 4 inches deep and pulled back 6 inches from the tree trunk and extend it one foot beyond the root ball.  

Ready to buy, plant and grow a tree soon?  

Additional Information:  

CSU-Care & Planting Tips

CSU Recommended Trees for Colorado

CSU Guide to Tree Selection

Freeze, Drought and Damage to Trees by Heather Duncan

A frost-damaged tree. (Courtesy of Colorado State Forest Service)

In early October 2019, we experienced an extreme weather event when from October 9-11 our front range temperatures dropped from highs in the upper 70’s to lows in the 10’s or even single digits before rising again to the mid 60’s.  Most of our trees had not yet hardened off for winter causing a range of damage. While weaker trees may have suffered more severe damage, healthy trees likely weathered this event with minimal damage such as blackening or browning of leaves on deciduous trees or “grizzled” foliage on evergreens. 

Many of our healthy trees hold enough reserves to handle a single event like this so any longer-term damage would necessitate additional stressors and Mother Nature never disappoints!

Over this past winter, we experienced a short period of drought during December and January.  The front range received only three weather events that brought any measurable precipitation during those months.  The dry winter conditions likely added additional pressure to our trees, especially to those that did not receive any supplemental water during this period.  Signs of winter injury might include browning or rust colored needles on evergreens and sun-scald or leaf scorch on deciduous trees.

Photo: Mary Beth Mainero

Photo: Heather Duncan

Normal Needle Drop
Photo: Heather Duncan

And to add this…in April 2020 temperatures plunged again!  While many spring plants can tolerate light freezes or temperatures of 29º Fahrenheit, we experienced another deep freeze just as many trees were budding and beginning to flower.  From April 10-13 our temperatures dropped from highs in the upper 60’s to lows well below freezing and into the teens.  Not only did this freeze result in a Disaster Declaration for our Western Slope from the USDA, many of our other trees around the state, already stressed by the previous drought and early fall freeze, suffered additional damage such as leaf or flower buds being killed or leaf distortion.

Photo: Heather Duncan

But don’t dismay!  While flower buds are gone for this season and you’ll likely have to wait for next year to see those again, most healthy trees and shrubs have enough reserved energy to form a second flush of leaves.  Many of our trees on the front range have already leafed out again.  Here are some tips and resources linked below on how to manage your trees going forward:

·      Water appropriately:  if there isn’t rain or snow in the forecast, water the root zone to a depth of around 12 inches once or twice per month (even over the next winter) however be careful to not overwater

·      Mulch: applying mulch under a tree may help reduce moisture loss and competition from turf and improve moisture penetration into the soil

·      Hold off on the fertilizer: wait until the tree has fully re-leafed

·      Watch and wait for continued leaf and needle emergence:

o   check for soft/pliable limbs and buds (alive) or dry/brittle limbs and buds (dead)

o   healthy trees will likely form new buds this summer and over the coming seasons will fill in the gaps

o   only prune out dead branches after new growth has emerged and do not prune any living tissue

And for additional information, as always, the Jefferson County Colorado Master Gardeners are here to support you.  Please visit our website at https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/.

Additional information is available:  Western Slope, Woody Plants, CSU-Woody Plants, 
ColoStateForestService 

Using a Moisture Meter to Determine Watering Trees/Shrubs by Steven White

Moisture Meter

Watering newly planted trees and shrubs can be a challenge.  It is not easy to determine if the root ball is wet or dry.  I am going to share with you my method for checking to see if the tree and/or shrub is moist or dry.

January Word of the Month: Winter Quiescence

Photo courtesy Donna Duffy

Have you ever wondered what's going on with your tree roots underneath all that winter snow? Michael Snyder, Chittenden (Vermont) County Forester, explains the concept of winter quiescence - a state in which tree roots are resting, but ready.

Watch for Codling Moths on Apple and Pear Trees

Adult Codling Moth, photo courtesy CSU Extension

For the first time in several years, we didn't have a late spring freeze in 2018! That's good news for fruit production in Jefferson County. The fruit trees are already showing signs of a banner fruit yield. Watch your apple and pear trees for codling moth - it's the most important insect pest of these trees in North America.  Damage is done by the larvae, which are cream-colored caterpillars that tunnel fruit and produce ‘wormy’ apples.

Low Water Stresses Urban Trees

Hot Wings Tatarian Maple, photo courtesy Denver Post

Information excerpted from: Lack of Water is Key Stressor for Urban Trees, North Carolina State University. Click on the link for the article in its entirety.

A recent study found that urban trees can survive increased heat and insect pests fairly well - unless they are thirsty. Insufficient water not only harms trees, but allows other problems to have an outsized effect on trees in urban environments.