July 2008 Email Newsletter

What Is Your Favorite Tree?

I recently asked a friend to tell me her favorite tree. She told me about trees she likes because of their flowers, and others because of their graceful appearance. However the one that stuck out the most to me was an Oak tree. It wasn’t special because of flowers or structure. It was special because of where it was. This tree was part of remembering some very special people in her life. People often plant “Memorial” trees, but why is that? The answer is simple. Trees represent strength, they stand the test of time. Trees give us comfort when we sit in their shade. Trees are always there…I remember growing up and playing under the same tree day after day. Trees are ultimately selfless, they give everything they have to life and ask nothing in return but a sip of water and gentle breeze.

I don’t mean to get too mushy, but her answer made me think, and I hope you will too.

Know When to Say "When"

It is vitally important to the success of your landscape's health to know the water requirements of your vegetation.  Tailoring your water practices is not only good for plant health, but also a crucial step in the conservation process.

   It is easy to see the deep green color and abundant leaf density when a tree is thriving.  However, many benefits remained hidden, for example:

· Increased insect/disease resistance

· Higher rates of photosynthate and storage of sugars

· A denser root system

· Reduction in drought stress

· Better recovery from winter damage

   The key to successful watering involves understanding the specific needs of each plant.  A simplified comparison of two dominant Colorado trees will illustrate this point.  Ponderosa pines and Ash trees are frequent occupants of many Denver area landscapes.  Often seen sharing common growing space, these trees vary greatly in their individual water needs.  To realize their growth potentials, there is an average need of 14" and 22" of water for Ponderosa pines and Ash trees respectively. 

As the Denver area accepts an average rainfall of 16" annually, there is less need for supplemental irrigation on the Ponderosa pines.  In contrast, serious attention should be directed toward the Ash tree.  Ensuring that a range of 1"-2" of moisture makes its way to the root system of the Ash tree each month is accomplished by monitoring natural rainfall and supplementing with irrigation.  People often stress the importance of watering, but it is essential and efficient to focus on each plant's specific needs.  In doing so we can help our trees reach their potentials and conserve our limited resources.

   "Deep Root Watering" has become a valuable tool in recent years.  This technique for applying supplemental water eliminates the issue of surface water runoff.  The heavy clay soil we typically have in the Denver metro is an aggregate of small plates.  The arrangement of these plates forces water to travel in a long, zig-zag pattern in order to reach the plant roots.  Unfortunately, water, like electricity, will follow the path of least resistance.  The friction of the soil surface is much easier to overcome than the friction involved in the long journey to the root zone.  "Deep Root Watering" circumvents this issue by injecting the water directly into the soil.

The water requirements of an individual tree species are as variable as the visual characteristics that define them.  The following chart further illustrates the various needs of a few of our common trees.

	Average Rainfall		Tree's Needs		Additional Water Needed
Honeylocust	14"	-	24"	=	10"
White/Green Ash	14"	-	22"	=	8"
Silver Maple	14"	-	29"	=	15"
Blue Spruce	14"	-	17"	=	3"
Ponderosa Pine	14"	-	14"	=	0"
Austrian Pine	14"	-	16"	=	2"

The needs of each tree will change slightly depending on the soil's structure and type.  These factors influence how much water will remain in the soil, and therefore become available to the tree.  It is very important to do a little digging and determine the impact your supplemental irrigation is having on the soil.

Summer fungal Issues

We often enjoy watching the flowers bloom on the many Apples and Crabapples that thrive in our landscapes. Unfortunately, we often forget about these trees once the flower petals have blown away. Two specific pathogens pose a serious threat to the vigor and vitality of these woody friends. The bacterial disease Fireblight, and the fungal agent known as Powdery Mildew have taken up permanent residence in many landscapes. These pathogens are very different in the damage they cause, however they combine to weaken the trees and reduce their lifespan.

Fireblight can be very aggressive under the right conditions. Damage from spring hail storms damage soft stem tissue and open up entryways for the bacteria, which is most active in the spring and early summer. The bacteria then grows in the vascular tissue of the tree, distorting the terminal growth. The easiest way to discern an infection by Fireblight is to identify the typical “Shepherds Crook”, or hooking of the branch tips. Leaves will often fail to drop in the fall, further aiding in the positive identification of this pathogen. As with many bacteria, this can be difficult to treat. Antibiotic formulation of tetracycline have shown good success when used in conjunction with cultural controls of time sensitive pruning and proper watering. If left untreated this disease can easily kill an otherwise healthy tree in a short time.

Powdery Mildew is a less virulent disease. This fungi is easily seen growing on the leaf surface as a soft, white, hairy fuzz. This fuzz is actually the mycelial growth of the fungus. Spring conditions often favor the growth of powdery mildew, but irrigation systems that spray onto the foliage can create similar conditions and extend the period of infection far into the growing season. It is very important to check your irrigation system to ensure that moisture is only going to areas where it is useful….the soil! Cleaning up and infected material that may fall to the ground is also helpful to reduce the amount of inoculum in the environment. Reducing stress on your trees helps to ensure a long life that we can all enjoy.

If you have concerns about these trees or any plants around your property, don’t hesitate to call one of our Arborists. We are always here to help you.

The American Elm

As if taken straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, the Elm tree has graced our city parks and streets for decades.  The appeal was easy to see.  As the Elm attains a superior height in the landscape, the unique vase shape becomes obvious.  A dense canopy casts an abundance of shade on the ground below to cool the environment during the sweltering days of summer.

   The Elm tree has not enjoyed an easy time in many landscapes.  An aggressive pathogen, known as Dutch Elm Disease, has devastated what once was a dominant population of urban trees.  However, despite various insect and disease pressures, the Elm tree has persisted with new cultivars and disease resistant hybrids.  As you travel around town appreciating the distant mountains and serene city parks, don't neglect to look up and say "hello" to the silent and statuesque Elm trees that continue to grace our city.

An Important Note To All Clients:

Mt. High will implementing a Fuel Surcharge for each visit to you property. This will begin on July 15^th, 2008. We regret the need for such changes, and hope for you patience and understanding.

Water Your Newly Planted Trees!!!

If Mt. High has installed new trees or shrubs at your property, please be sure to water these trees whenever conditions warrant. Lightly misting the foliage on hot, sunny days is also a big help to reduce the amount of sun scald on leaf tissue. If you need any assistance to facilitate watering of new trees, please don’t hesitate to call us for help.

SUMMER LAWN CARE

As summer approaches we are spending more time enjoying our yards. Keep in mind that as the heat comes on you may need to increase the watering time on zones where the heat is brutal on the lawn. This is typically the south and west facing areas. A lawn needs a minimum of 1” of water per week. You can monitor how much water your lawn is receiving by setting out a coffee can and catching how much water is accumulated in the can each watering cycle.

REVIVE is an excellent product to add to your lawn regiment. It is a natural organic soil treatment that will help to conserve water by improving water penetration. Essential nutrients can be tied up in the soil and REVIVE helps to free nutrients up and makes them available to attach to the roots of the plant. Mountain High will complete the granular application of REVIVE in combination with your fertilization. Your lawn will greatly benefit from REVIVE as the temperatures heat up. An application now and one in later in the summer is recommended. Call today to authorize this valuable application.

BROWN SPOTS can be a sign of a multitude of issues. It can simply be that the area is drought stressed from a sprinkler head not working properly or receiving enough watering time. Keep a close eye on your heads as lawn mowers can easily bump them and cause the head to not cover properly. They can get dirt in them and become clogged as well.

Insects can cause brown spots. The most typically type of insects that we start to see in June are BILLBUGS and GRUBS. These insects will feed on the roots leaving a brown spot or area that will pull up easily due to the roots that have been eaten. An insecticide must be applied. I f you suspect that you may have a problem please call our lawn department.

WEEDS are thriving! The best preventative to weeds is a healthy lush lawn. When the lawn is healthy and lush the weeds become crowded out. Your lawn needs a proper fertilization program combined with good cultural practices such as proper watering. Herbicides for weed control are included in all of Mountain Highs lawn care programs and will get a handle on those nuisance weeds. It is the time of year where we will see not only dandies but also thistle and bindweed are rearing their ugly heads. These are tougher weeds and they will require having a weed program in place to gain control from season to season. Please consult with the lawn care department if you are experiencing weed problems in you lawn or natural areas.

BUG BARRIER is a program that will help eliminate spiders and ants from invading your home. The application consists of a simple treatment around the outside perimeter of the home. In order for the Bug Barrier to consistently be effective we will come to you property for multiple visits.