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Sp611 Trees To Plant Under Power Lines, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Serious conflicts often develop between utilities and trees. Trees that grow into electric wires pose serious safety issues and often result in less reliable service. Util- ity companies spend more than $1 billion annually for tree pruning, passing this cost on to the consumer. In addition, trees are often disÞ gured by improper pruning and killed or seriously injured by excavation for underground wires and pipes.

Sp617 Mulching Your Trees And Landscapes, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

A protective covering of various materials, either organic or inorganic, spread over the soil surface to reduce evaporation of moisture, improve plant growth, discourage weedy species and enhance the appearance of the landscape is known as mulch. Inorganic mulching materials include landscape fabric (geotextile) and plastic fi lm that are primarily used for weed control and retention of soil moisture, while rocks, gravel, brick chips and shredded rubber are used more for decorative purposes. Most inorganic mulches do not decay and thus do not improve soil properties. Grass clippings, straw, pine needles, leaves, peat moss, compost, wood fiber and bark …

Sp574 Post-Planting Tree Care - Fallacies And Recommendations, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Most trees experience shock after transplanting because of the disturbance to the root system. In balled and burlapped (B&B) transplants, it is estimated that 4 to 9 percent of the original root system and about 2 percent of the soil volume occupied by the root system in the nursery is contained in the root ball (Watson 1994). Trees try to keep a balance between the above-ground portion of the tree and the root system (Perry 1982). When the amount of the root system is reduced during transplanting, the above-ground portion of the tree is also affected. The tree either is …

Sp573 How To Recognize And Prevent Tree Hazards, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees benefit us in many ways. They can also cause major damage when limbs or the whole tree falls on power lines, cars, houses or people. Usually, weakened trees give some warning signs of danger. By learning to recognize the signs and to follow-up with prompt, proper action, you can often manage this risk, saving yourself grief as well as money.

Sp575 Storm-Damaged Residential Trees - Assessment, Care And Prevention, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Snow, ice, wind, hail and even heavy rain can cause significant damage to residential trees. Understanding the impacts of storms on trees will allow you to develop both preventative measures to decrease the probability of tree damage and management approaches to care for trees after damage has occurred.

Trees may be uprooted, decapitated or suffer massive crown loss as branches are broken by the force of the wind or by the weight of ice and snow. Loss of large portions of the crown results in tree stress, a reduction of growth and entry sites for insects and disease. Depending on …

Pb1670 Dogwoods For American Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Seventeen species of dogwood are native to the United States, with about 50 throughout the northern hemisphere of the world. The familiar species we call “flowering dogwood,” Cornus florida, is related to many others. This publication discusses those of ornamental value. Most dogwood species are either shrubs or small trees and can be easily divided into two main groups: those with red fruit (occasionally yellow) and those with blue-black (sometimes whitish) fruit.

In addition to its beauty, the dogwood is an important food source for birds and wildlife. Berries of the flowering dogwood are eaten by many species of …

Sp572 Transplanting Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Successfully transplanting trees depends on decisions and production practices that take place long before the first shovel of soil is turned. Selecting the right species and high-quality nursery stock based on planting site characteristics, available care after planting, transplant size, root ball characteristics and nursery production practices is essential to successful transplanting. The rewards for attention to these details will be realized as the transplanted tree matures and increases its importance to your property.

Trees experience tremendous stress in the transplanting process, primarily from adverse changes in their ability to absorb water due to root loss. Water stress is the …

Sp571 Successfully Transplanting Established Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Planning and preparation are the keys to successfully transplanting established trees from one area of your property to another.

Sp546 Diseases Of Shade And Ornamental Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Shade trees and small ornamental trees may be affected by plant diseases. Most are simply aesthetic problems and cause no long-term damage to the tree. Some diseases can seriously disfigure trees, while others are lethal.

Sp549 Tree Topping Hurts Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

The practice of topping is so widespread that many people believe it is the proper way to prune trees. However, topping causes a variety of problems in trees that create future maintenance and growth dilemmas for homeowners.

Sp548 Fertilizing Landscape Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees in residential and commercial landscape plantings are often fertilized to keep them healthy and attractive. Over-fertilization is common, causing excessive growth, especially on young nursery stock. Trees growing in lawn areas usually receive some nutrients when the turfgrass is fertilized. This is usually sufficient to maintain most trees in fertile soil. However, fertilization may be needed on altered soils where unconsolidated fill material has been added or the topsoil has been removed. Managed urban areas where fallen leaves are removed may also require a fertilization regime to enrich soil and replenish nutrients.

Fertilizer (plant nutrition) is no substitute for …

Sp533 Trees For Poorly Drained Soils In The Landscape, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Preparation for planting is the key to success in establishing landscape plants. Preparation includes site analysis, design, plant selection and installation, as well as planning for follow-up care and maintenance. Site analysis and proper planting assure rapid plant establishment and healthy growth, provided environmental factors are favorable. However, proper planting involves much more than just digging a hole and sticking a plant in it. By taking a little extra time to plant properly, you can avoid future costly maintenance problems.

Sp532 Trees To Plant In Containers Or Wells, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Landscaping in a small area is challenging, but popular. Planting trees in small areas can limit root and shoot development. Proper selection of plant material for small areas is important to ensure a healthy environment for the plant. Sidewalks, patios, decks, entrances, courtyards and other small areas can be landscaped with the use of containers or wells with restricted soil area.

Sp535 Managing Trees And Turfgrasses, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees and turfgrasses commonly share the landscape, especially our lawns, cities, parks and roadsides. Both trees and turfgrasses require space, light, water, air, essential nutrients and an appropriate temperature for growth and survival. Turfgrass professionals often struggle to maintain quality turf under healthy trees. Tree managers often have problems sharing limited water resources with turfgrass. A tree canopy filters light and actively growing turfgrasses use substantial amounts of water. Trees and turfgrasses can be managed to get the best from both, when we understand their respective needs.

Sp529 Changing Colors Of Leaves, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Differing shades of red, yellow, orange and purple. Autumn in full color. What triggers the color change? What color or colors do each species of trees turn? What causes the variations in color?

The factors that influence autumn leaf color are shorter day lengths, weather (primarily cooler temperatures and less moisture) and changing levels of leaf pigments. The only constant factor from year to year is the shortening day length. As days become shorter and nights grow longer, biochemical processes in the leaf initiate changing leaf color. All the other factors vary annually, making the prediction of autumn color unreliable.

Sp530 Urban Trees For Wildlife, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Viewing wildlife on your property is educational and fun. The kinds and numbers of wildlife that visit your backyard regularly depends on your location, size of area, variety of vegetation and amount of habitat development. Ideally, the habitat surrounding your home should be diverse with several species of trees, shrubs and flowering plants providing food and cover for wildlife throughout the year. The more diverse the vegetation, the greater variety of wildlife that can be attracted to the area.

Sp534 Nutrient Deficiencies In Trees, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Our knowledge of the nutrition of ornamental trees is sparse. Most research has been conducted on juvenile plants or seedlings that are grown for a few weeks or months in greenhouses, growth chambers or even in nurseries where the controlled conditions are quite different than the environmental conditions encountered in nature and those found in larger, developing trees. Furthermore, most of the literature on nutrient deficiencies is from crop science or horticultural plants, not trees. The information available for trees is at best fragmentary. This fact sheet provides information on some of the nutritional deficiencies found in urban trees in …

Sp513 Small Flowering Trees For Tennessee Landscapes, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Small flowering trees are second only to shade trees for importance in the landscape. Flowering trees are valuable plants with colorful, showy blossoms and other unusual features that give interest and variety in the landscape. All trees flower, but large trees are valued for providing shade, even though flowers may be noticeable. Large trees establish the basic framework of the landscape and should be planted in key locations for optimal shading. Most properties need both small and large trees, which creates a more desirable landscape.

Carefully select your small flowering trees to ensure they fit into the landscape. In addition …

Sp510 Diversified Urban Plantings, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

With a little creativity and a well-chosen repertoire of plant materials, there are ways to achieve picturesque and durable urban landscapes. Too often, a city planting consists of a row of the same evergreen trees throughout, or a virtual island of low shrubbery. Though plants for the city may need more careful selection, humdrum landscapes need not be the result.

Sp511 Plant The Right Tree In The Right Place, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Trees enhance the beauty and value of homes, streets and communities. However, trees planted in the wrong place can cause property damage and become a detriment rather than an asset. Planning the location and species of a tree will ensure that the tree will be an asset and not grow into a hazard or a nuisance.

“What tree should I plant?” is a question asked frequently by homeowners. The answer to the question depends on several factors:

1. Purpose for planting the tree.

2. Soil conditions.

3. Tree location, the right place.

4. Species growth and form, the right …

Sp514 Small Trees For Fall Splendor, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Many cities, municipalities, utility companies and homeowners incur significant costs each year for maintenance or removal of large trees used in small urban areas. A preventative solution to the dilemma is to use small trees that will remain in scale with smaller urban landscapes and not interfere with power lines and in-ground utilities (i.e. cable, sewer, and telephone). Smaller trees will not provide the shade of large, dense-canopy trees, but are especially suited for courtyards, patios or framing a house.

Small trees are considered to mature in height at about 25 to 35 feet. No strict rule exists as to …

Sp515 Native Trees For Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Native trees are a natural. They have been in Tennessee since before the arrival of European settlers. Native trees are already part of the ecosystem, contributing to local energy flows and nutrient cycles. Other organisms in the system are adapted to the structure, function and chemical composition of native trees. Birds, insects, fungi and other wildlife recognize and use native trees to support their biological needs. Trees introduced from other countries or areas, the so-called exotics, do not always fulfill these needs.

Sp512 Trees To Reconsider Before Planting, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

All trees have their good and bad characteristics. Rarely does a tree throughout its lifetime satisfy or even maintain the objectives for which it was planted. Trees become larger over time, often outgrowing their original growing space both above and below the ground. Some trees also droduct fruits or seeds that may be troublesome to the homeowner. An example of a tree planted to fulfill a need, but later presenting problems is silver maple, which grows and provides shade quickly. However, it is a short-lived tree with brittle wood prone to limb breakage during wind and ice storms. Another example …

Sp517 Evergreen Trees For Screens And Hedges In The Landscape, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

Screens and hedges are a popular way to create privacy or hide an undesirable view. They can be anything from a section of a fence to individually designed panels, brick walls or a wall of green plant material. Plantings are usually a less expensive way to create privacy than a fence or wall. Screens or hedges also offer additional advantages to many landscapes other than privacy. For example, they can frame a terrace or provide a backdrop to a herbaceous garden or other garden features.