You know you're living in the desert southwest during the hottest time of the year when you hear the weather man say, "We'll be cooling down a bit this week. Instead of 110 degrees, we'll be looking at temperatures around 105 and 106 degrees." Of course, as we progress further into the summer, there is a phenomenon knocking at our front door
sometimes literally. It's called monsoon season. While it has the potential to deliver half of our annual rainfall during this 3 month period, it can also bring enough force to damage even the most mature of trees.
During this time of year, I can drive through almost any community the day after a major rain storm and find a tree that either has damaged limbs or has been uprooted. While the price of the largest tree available from a nursery can be as much as $4,000, many of the trees toppled over are 2-3 times that size. If you do the math, you'll realize the dollar value of your tree.
Here are a few recommendations that can strengthen your tree's root system, adding years to its life.
1) Where are the irrigation drip heads positioned? Drip heads should be placed at the outer canopy to encourage the roots to grow stronger and further away. This results in a wider, stronger base, providing much more stability during wind storms.
2) What are you trying to achieve when watering your plants? The real objective is to water your trees to a depth of 24"-36" (typical tree root zone depth). For most trees that utilize drip heads, a watering schedule of 5-7 days per week for 30-45 minutes will not achieve this. Desert adapted trees can be watered as infrequent as every 7-21 days. It is the size and quantity of drip heads that influence how long it takes for each watering to percolate through the soil to reach the entire root zone. One method of determining if your tree has a weak root system is to grab its trunk (at normal shoulder height) and try moving the tree back and forth. If you notice the ground at the base of the trunk moving, this is an indication that your tree has not developed a strong root system.
3) How does your tree look? Is it heavier on one side (out of balance)? How dense is the canopy? When you try looking upward through your tree, do you see a multitude of dense, intertwined branches with very little light passing through? Are there any branches that are so heavy that they are being weighed down? If any one of these conditions applies, your tree can be susceptible to being blown over. Keep in mind however that you should have no more than approximately 15% of the tree removed at one time. If the tree is over pruned, it can expose the trunk and branches to sun burn.
Many of the desert adapted trees can be pruned as infrequent as twice yearly if done properly. If you need the assistance of a professional, be sure to ask for proof of liability insurance (in case a falling limb causes damage to your house or fence) as well as workman's compensation that protects your property from being liable if a worker is injured.
| About Author Gabriel Lobato : |
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Gabriel Lobato is a residential and commercial landscape contractor. He is also a Certified Arborist and a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor through the Irrigation Association.
http://www.landscapingintucson.com
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Article Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.net
Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/house_hold.php/208250
Article Added on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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