Spring 2010 Newsletter
Inside this Issue:
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Tree of the Quarter
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Dear Friends and Fellow Tree Lovers
TLC Update
Critters & Cruds
Elms are just beginning to flower and
will be in full leaf within a month. Elm
Leaf Beetle has been a huge problem
for the last several years. Apply a
systemic insecticide now so it has time to
translocate throughout the tree in time to
control this insect. Tree of the Quarter
The ice storm in late January was devastating to many trees. Live Oak and
Siberian Elm seem to have been the hardest hit. Live Oaks, because of being
evergreen and having all that leaf surface to catch ice, and elm, because they are
so brittle. Still, most breakage was at defects. Again, it shows the importance of
proper training when a tree is small. We appreciate everyone’s patience. We were
crushed by the onslaught of emergency work.
James Tuttle recently attended the Think Tree conference
in Albuquerque, NM. This was an excellent conference with
an emphasis on the root zone and different factors affecting
root growth.
Read the full article in our newsletter [pdf]
First, something that IS NOT a critter or crud is Live Oak
leaves falling. This really began in earnest the second week
of March and will continue for a month. This is completely normal. This is fall for
Live Oaks.
Western Soapberry, Sapindus
drummondi , is native to most
areas of Texas, including just off
the caprock in all directions. It
is a medium size tree, with very
little insect and disease problems
and very well adapted to our
soils. Once established, it should
almost never need supplemental
irrigation. This tree isn’t widely
available, but Tom’s Tree Place
does have some nice ones in
their growing grounds.
Read the full article in our newsletter [pdf]
Tree Care Tips - Give Your Trees TLC
Many people are saying ‘rain, rain go away’ but the moisture
this winter and spring has been wonderful for your trees and
all of the plants in your landscape. Many of our problems in
managing the landscape is because of the need for supplemental
watering which must be done with ground water. This water
has many dissolved minerals, which creates great imbalances
in the soil. TLC applies gypsum and other materials to help
this problem, but nothing beats Mother Nature. This rain will
flush out many of these minerals. The abundant rains will also
build a great reserve of deep soil moisture. That doesn’t mean
you won’t need to water at all, just not for a while. Our soils
will hold an inch or more of moisture and plants generally need
about that.
Read the full article in our newsletter [pdf]
03.31.2010. 10:19