Understanding Trees ….

1. Understanding Trees …. Trees from start to finish Who’s at fault

2. Information on this Program • My Website : http://lake.osu.edu • Links U.S.D.A. Weather stations Pest Management Informations Programs

6. Why Do Trees Fail ? • Poor Tree Selection • No Advanced Master Plan • Poor Siting of the Trees • No Soil Preparation • No Plan for Future Care • No Pruning Until it is a Emergency • Trees Poorly Planted • Poor Growing Environment • Look Up and Down what is Interfering with your Trees

7. ToLive ToLove ToLearn and To Leave a Legacy What Will You Leave ?

8. Is This Your Production Plan?

11. What Do We Call This : A Quiet, Self-imposed, Insidious Epidemic What Help Do you have

13. Site Evaluation • Size : Will the plants fit in the future • Soils : Physical vs chemical characterisitcs • Buildings: • Existing plants • Utilities : Sewer, power, septic, gas,

14. SOIL: From the Ground, Up! Soil Properties: They are not independent – they interact to affect soil characteristics Biological Chemical Physical

15. SOIL: Problems Trials and Tribulations… Slide 3 Slide 1

16. SOIL: Problems More Problems

17. well water table unsaturated zone surface water Aquifer (saturated zone) fractured bedrock gravel

18. The Four Main Components of Soil are: 25% 45% 25% 5%

19. The Size of Mineral Particles SAND . CLAY SILT

20. Good Soil Structure Poor Soil Structure Macropores Macropores Micropores Micropores Soil Particles Soil Particles Soil Structure and Compaction Compaction: decreases macropores by crushing aggregates. Micropores cannot be reduced unless soil particles fracture, so they usually increase

21. Soil Water Relationships Clay –Small pores, holds water, drains slowly . Sand- Large pores , drains fast, poor water holding capacity

22. Add organic matter Increased biological activity (& diversity) Decomposition Reduced soil-borne diseases Aggregation increased Pore structure improved Nutrients released Humus and other growth promoting substances Improved tilth & water storage Harmful substance detoxified Healthy Plants ORGANIC … MATTERS!

23. Roots absorb nutrients as water carries it to them

25. The level of water in the barrels represents the level of crop production. On the left, nitrogen is represented as being the factor that is most limiting. Even though the other elements are present in more adequate amounts, crop production can be no higher than that allowed by the nitrogen. When nitrogen is added (right) the level of crop production is raised until it is controlled by the next most limiting factor, in this case, potassium.

26. Nutrients • Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) come from air and water to make up most of the body of the plant. • Potassium, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur are the major mineral nutrients that are taken from the soil to help make up plant structure. • Micronutrients, such as iron and manganese are also taken from the soil for special functions in the plant.

28. 4 Field Capacity 3 Available Water Inches of Water Per ft. of Soil 2 Permanent Wilting Percentage 1 Sand Sandy Loam Silt Loam Clay Loam Clay Water and Soil Moisture Relationship between soil texture and water availability

29. How Does Water Move in the Soil Percolation-water moving downward in the soil. Excess water on the surface will cause runoff. Capillary Action- water moving up in the soil through the small pores against gravity. Seepage - water moving sideways in the soil . Much of this water can move into basements and open sites. Runoff – water that can’t be absorbed into the soil so it moves down hill. Issues are erosion and loss of nutrients ( water contamination)

30. Rate at Which Water Moves in the Soil Soil Types Infiltration rates (inches/hour) Sand >0.8 Sandy &silty soils 0.4 to 0.8 Loams 0.2 to 0.4 Clay soils 0.04 to 0.2

31. Pore and Air-Water Movement macro pores available air in macropore micro pores water soil particle

35. How Do Trees Grow in a Woods? Understanding Tree Morphology

36. The Seed Falls To the Ground The Seed is seldom if ever buried in the forest soil . The Root radical grows into the ground The Stem pushes up right to the sunlight Interface develops at the soil line ( as God intended it ,who do you think you are )

37. Tree Morphology Understanding that that Trunk and Root Tissue is Different Root tissue is much denser than stem tissue. Roots have to grow and push soil aside as they grow .

39. Tree Morphology Understanding that that Trunk and Root Tissue is Different Stem tissue grows through air with little resistance . They must be able to flex in the wind.

40. Pith of the Stem Girdling Root

41. Trees in it’s early years Understanding Roots : Main Order Roots- Large lateral roots that forms the trunk flare . This also form the basal forms the basal plate.

42. Trees in it’s Early Years Understanding Roots : Adventitious Roots- roots that develop on trunk tissue that is darkened. The same buds will form branches if exposed to sunlight. ( auxin is destroyed by sunlight)

43. Adventitious Roots are a Sign of Problems The above ground portions of the tree are in a environment where roots can grow. ( Darkened by planting to deep or over mulched) These are not found in natural environment .

44. Adventitious Roots are a Sign of Problems When planted to deep a gap will form around the trunk. Adventitious roots grow rapidly in that opening and don’t grow out into that soil .

45. Growing the tree right . • Trees are planted deep promote adventitious roots to formed early. • These can occur on cutting and seed grown trees. • These roots will have minimal effect on the trees growth in the nursery. (field or container) • These roots will not have a impact on the tree through the guarantee period. How Do We Do It Right?

46. It costs you less to it right the first time. • Buy the right plants from the nursery (inspect before you buy) • Bare Root • Balled and Burlap • Container • Proper plant transport and pre planting care • Inspect the trees before you plant • Depth of the main order roots • No girdling roots present • Trunk inspection Install It Right Stupid?

47. Container Plants • Grown in artifical media • Rapid root growth • Depth of planting • Soils different than the planting site • Dries out fast • Need to fertilizer often

49. Field Grown ( B&B) • Grown in native soils • Roots are cut with shovels • The ball is covered with burlap • Up to 80+ percent of the root system can be removed