Ornamental Trees
Yaupon Holly – Make Tea from Leaves
Yaupon holly is a ntive holly often used in urban landscapes. Native Americans also found it useful….but not for making their homes more attractive! Yaupon Tea posted by Geoff This afternoon I made a cup of yaupon tea from the...
Tree Planted Too Deep – Examples
It’s heartbreaking to have an attractive young tree in your landscape begin to decline. When you examine the trunk, you may see bark at the base peeling off, splitting, or generally looking unhealthy. In my observation, these are symptoms of...
Acorns – Heavy Crop in 2011
Many gardeners have noted a heavier than normal acorn crop in 2011. They report a constant barrage of nuts falling from white oak, water oak and red oak trees. One even carries an umbrella to protect her head while walking...
White Mulberry vs Red Mulberry – Identification
I’m often asked to identify “that tree that has lots of blackberries hanging from it!”. Most often it is a white mulberry, Morus alba. The fruit is edible but not exactly dessert quality. The red mulberry, Morus rubra, is less...
Girdling Tree Roots
When a root closely circles a tree trunk rather than growing outward, it is called a “girdling root”. The situation usually starts when the tree is young. Somehow a root begins circling the trunk. As it grows larger and the...
Trees – No Tap Roots
Driving to dinner with friends after a big storm, I came upon this. A big tree next to a driveway fell and flipped over the car on the driveway! Notice one particular point – trees growing in our clay soils...
Tree Pruning
Pruning a tree sometimes invokes more worry than it should. You wonder if removing a tree limb is analogous to cutting off your leg (does it hurt? will I kill it?). Fortunately, if you take your time, pruning can be easily done,...
Tree Removal Rules – Metro Atlanta
Removing a tree is not as simple as hiring a tree company or buying a chainsaw and seeing a pile of chips the next day. Counties and cities across the Atlanta metro area have adopted tree ordinances that determine whether...
Crabapples – Resistant to Fireblight
Q: Our favorite crab apple tree has finally succumbed to fireblight. We will be cutting it down and looking to replace it with another tree. Due to the difficulty of getting rid of the blight, is it safe to replace...
UGA Tree Publications
The following publications are available online from the University of Georgia: Fast Growing Shade Trees Trees for Georgia Watering Trees Pruning Shade Trees Wetland Trees and Shrubs Treehouse Construction Nature Trail Construction Construction Allelopathy in Trees Assessing Construction Damage: Tree...
Trees – Straightening When Bent
Younger and smaller trees in landscape settings that are bent or leaning can be gently straightened by staking with a guy rope. Do not wrap wire padded by a water hose around the trunk. Nylon strap or cotton cloth more...
Trees – Recovering from Storm Damage
Trees are well adapted to survive for long periods of time in spite of numerous and severe injuries. The great majority of damaged trees will survive, recover, and continue to provide the shade and screen we ask of them. First,...
Trees – Planting Correctly
It is said that when you plant a tree you give a gift to future generations. Fall is an excellent time to plant trees in your landscape. The soil is warm, so roots are encouraged to rapidly elongate. Days are...
Trees – Dealing With Storm Damage
Ice, snow and wind storms can cause extensive damage to trees. Snow and ice add tons of extra weight to individual trees. Stems and branches break, while some trees may be completely bent over. Here’s what you can do after...
Tree Planting – Use Phosphorus Fertilizer
One of the great gifts of gardening in the South is the fact that our soil rarely freezes. That means we can plant shrubs and trees during months our Northern neighbors are shoveling their sidewalks. If you decide to plant...
Tree Damage – Insurance Claims
You may be able to claim a storm loss or insurance benefit as a result of storm damage. Here are ways to assess the value of damaged trees and landscaping: • The decrease in the fair market value of the...
Tree – Straightening When Blown Over
Summer or winter storms often blow over otherwise healthy trees. Here is a review of the basics of righting trees that lean or have fallen. The first task is to shovel out a space under the root ball so it...
Tree – Covering Exposed Roots
D.S. recently sent me a question I have heard over and over again after heavy, eroding rains. “I have a maple tree whose roots are showing through the soil around it.” he wrote. “How much new topsoil should I put...
