the classic Shel Silverstein children’s book, The Giving Tree, the tree gives everything it has over a lifetime to the boy it loves. It is certainly easy to appreciate the splendor of a mature and majestic shade of evergreen tree. We welcome spring every year with the beauty of flowering ornamentals. These trees not only inspire us as miracles of nature that provide food and habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies; they actually deliver tremendous financial benefits to our associations and homes. Mr. Silverstein might not have realized that his famous tree gave much more than he ever thought possible.
IN Did you know? (Source: U.S. Forestry Service)
What can we draw from these facts? Trees deliver wonderful benefits to us individually and to
our planet. This suggests that it is our responsibility to care for and manage our urban forests as an incredibly important renewable resource.
Trees have lifespans just like you and me. A realistic lifespan for a healthy crab apple may be 30 – 50 years, while an oak may live to be 300 years or older. Diseases, pests, drought, pollution, road salt, winter burn, poor soil composition, and lack of pruning or general care can greatly affect the longevity of a tree.
Also very important is planting the correct tree in the right place. For example, not too long ago, a homeowner wished to discuss why his evergreen trees were in decline and dying.
While there was damage from disease and pests, the root cause (Get it? Root cause!) “stems” from the fact that the trees were planted in an area that holds water. Since most evergreens do not like “wet feet,” this condition stressed the trees. A plant in stress releases chemicals (pheromones) that welcome pests to attack. A weak plant does not have as much strength to fight off disease as a healthy tree.
Since these evergreens were planted in a place where they would never be happy and healthy, the homeowner chose to remove them and replace them with bald cypress trees instead. Bald cypresses are deciduous evergreens that tolerate wet soil and were more apt to be happy and healthy in their new home - hopefully for the next 100+ years.
Selecting the correct trees for the landscape is critical. In discussing this topic with Illinois Certified Nurseryman – Director of Goodmark Nurseries – Past President of the Ornamental Grower Association, Mike Scheitz, had a lot to share from a grower’s standpoint.
He stated, “We try to grow species which perform well in both our native soils, and in soils which have been significantly impacted by new construction.” Scheitz continued to share that, “one of my missions on behalf of the Ornamental Growers Association is to provide continuous education to the industry, including Registered Landscape Architects, who develop plans for both new development and re- designs of landscaped areas.” Scheitz added, “We have to be on the same page, because I need them to select varieties that will do well in our area which are the ones we raise in our fields.”
Note: This is really important to the nurseryman farmer who needs a multi-year plan to produce a product that
will be in high demand. It takes 3 – 5 years to grow a 2.5” caliper shade tree, and up to 5 years to produce a 6 – 8” evergreen.
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