16
votes
Accepted
Is this heavy blue-green growth on my tree trunk and branches a form of lichen?
These look like the tree lichens that are growing on my own trees. A lichen is a composite organism where by a fungus lives together with an algae in a symbiotic relationship. They don't hurt the tree,...
- 22.9k
14
votes
Accepted
Should trees be staked when they are planted?
Should all trees be staked when they are planted?
First, you have to find out Why people stake trees. What benefits are there to staking young trees? In nature, trees can germinate, grow, and mature ...
- 51.5k
11
votes
Accepted
Why is my new Acer tree dying?
First, your Acer is not dying, it's just very unhappy. This is a common problem on Acer palmatum varieties here in the UK- usually, the cause is wind, that is, you've placed the plant in a spot which ...
- 128k
10
votes
How can I help my young mulberry tree grow a thicker stem?
Etiolation, or insufficient light strength, is a partial explanation - this tree is deciduous and normally would be dormant at this time of year. However, the process of thigmomorphogenesis is also ...
- 128k
10
votes
Accepted
Dwarf Apple tree in heavy clay
Apple trees do well in clay. There are a few things you could do different next time:
do not put stones or other soil amendments in the bottom of the hole. If the planting hole has reached the clay ...
- 56k
10
votes
How should I save an oak tree wounded by ground root removal?
I had a large (massive) Elm tree that had all the roots on one side cut about 6 feet from the tree due to an idiot plumber running a sewer pipe. This was a deep trench, too.
I used an in-ground ...
- 101
10
votes
Accepted
How should I care for a young cherry tree?
When you say 'recent', if that means within the last year, the only thing you need to do is keep it well watered during dry spells for its first 2-3 years. Hopefully you dug the soil over well and ...
- 128k
10
votes
Any way to save a large tree that's starting to split/crack down the middle?
Consult a tree surgeon. If you want to save it, it might be possible to cable the top parts (not "tie a rope around") to keep it from spreading wider. Depending on the decay of the trunk, this might ...
- 18k
10
votes
Pruning a weeping mulberry
Oh my goodness. Do you understand the treasure you have? Find a master pruner to create a covered walkway! How wonderful. If you destroy this tree I will haunt you when I am dead! (Grins). That ...
- 39.8k
10
votes
Very few needles on lower spruce branches
I live in a region where Norway spruce grows wild, and in my experience, the lower shaded branches shedding their needles and dying is perfectly normal for these trees. For the tree, there's no point ...
- 201
9
votes
Accepted
How do I make Emerald Green Arborvitae grow as fast as biologically possible?
The time you spend in preparation is as, or more, important than post planting time.
site location, cedars like access to water, not soggy and not dry
some shade is fine and full sun is tolerated if ...
- 56k
9
votes
Are my Emerald Arborvitaes recoverable?
Of the eight pictures only the third picture shows a cedar that will look good. The rest are either dead or so badly damaged it would take years before they looked good.
This kind of dieback is ...
- 56k
9
votes
Why is my new Acer tree dying?
Yep, that is a Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum
Here's how to plant/grow a Japanese maple tree in a pot:
Prep:
The preparation necessary before attempting to plant. Make sure all of these steps are ...
- 51.5k
9
votes
Accepted
How should I care for my multi-variety apple and pear trees?
You definitely need to do some pruning. Before you start pruning a tree, you should find all of the graft points. Since you have multi-graft trees, there should be one graft at the point where each ...
- 9,414
9
votes
Is this heavy blue-green growth on my tree trunk and branches a form of lichen?
As Graham says they are lichen and moss. A tree will commonly live in a symbiotic relationship with millions of macro and micro-scopic organisms. In tropical and temperate rain forests overgrowth on ...
- 56k
9
votes
Any way to save a large tree that's starting to split/crack down the middle?
Yes, a professional arborist could save the tree using cabling and bolts as the practical Ecnerwal illustrates. This would be something you would do as soon as possible. It appears that the two ...
- 56k
9
votes
Accepted
Does moss harm the tree it grows on?
Moss will not harm the tree! Good news indeed because the forests around here would be in BIG trouble! Moss does not have true roots - their "roots" are just for the purpose anchoring themselves to ...
- 1,699
8
votes
How should I care for newly planted saplings on a slope?
ViSu, You reminded me of the same experience I and my friends had before. In our college days, we planted a number of saplings on a barren land\hill slope.
As you are going to plant in a hilly area (...
- 1,589
8
votes
Accepted
What kind of trees can be kept in an apartment?
On the assumption you mean treelike plants as opposed to smaller houseplants, have a look at these palms: Chamaerops humilis (if you have room, they spread out a bit), Rhapis excelsa (little lady ...
- 128k
8
votes
Can I save this tree?
First of all, I'm going to explain a bit about what's probably happening. Peach trees, and for that matter most stone-fruit trees planted for production, are usually not grown on their own roots. If ...
- 5,839
8
votes
Accepted
What are the best practices for keeping trees healthy in a construction area?
This answer will be based on a tool from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Forest Resources Unit. I have changed it somewhat over the time I've used it, but I was sure to make it ...
- 51.5k
8
votes
What do nurseries feed their potted trees to make them so healthy?
Bear in mind that many commercial outlets do not actually grow trees in pots, they simply buy them in from a specialist supplier. The actual supplier will raise the saplings under controlled ...
- 128k
8
votes
Harm a tree by trimming top/exposed only part of root in lawn?
Evil Elf asked in a comment about studies of what does happen to trees when root work is done. A survey of web links shows that root pruning is commonly given as good advice. Academic studies of the ...
- 56k
8
votes
Accepted
Is this rule of thumb for timing dormant pruning correct?
I think the grouping would look more logical if it were made on the way the trees set fruit: stone fruit trees (plum, apricot) are the early bloomers, while the trees with fruits that contain seeds (...
- 5,366
8
votes
Accepted
Should I redo this pruning cut?
The cut is fine but the tree has or will have issues. You can see that there is already interior decay in the heartwood of the tree. As stormy indicates water will enter the wound and decay will ...
- 56k
8
votes
Should I leave fallen apples (windfall) to rot under the tree?
According to this publication from the University of Wisconsin Extension, the larvae of several destructive insects can grow to maturity in windfallen apples:
Apple Maggot Flies (pp. 12, 14)
Codling ...
- 13.5k
7
votes
How can I revive a tree that's been stripped of bark?
Bridge grafting may be the technique you're looking for. This method uses smaller stems to bridge the gap, allowing sap to flow across.
Image credit found here, with directions on how to use this ...
- 988
7
votes
Is staking young trees helpful or harmful?
My opinion, based on decades of observation, experience and botany is only stake a tree if it was bare-root, purchased root-bound with a huge canopy or if you are trying to stand up a mature tree that ...
- 39.8k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible