There are roughly 500 different varieties of trees native to Texas soil, and each one of these native Texas trees has been stressed to its limits this year in the 2011 heat wave and drought, the worst ever recorded. Heading into the winter months all Texas trees are in desperate need of care so that they can adequately recover and continue to grow and thrive next year. If you have never fertilized your Southeast Texas trees for the winter in previous years, this would be an excellent year to start. This article is to be certain you have basic information to do it right.
Most native Southeast Texas Trees, including the iconic tall longleaf Loblolly pine of the piney woods region, the Sabal palm, and the wide variety of oaks that grow here, are trees that prefer large amounts of water, and this region of the country is famous for high levels of rainfall. The drought has been especially mean to them. Many of these trees possess deep root systems, and this is important to know when thinking about how to supplement their soil and prepare them for the winter months.
So what can you do to guard and supplement your trees so they have the best chance to revive and thrive next year? Here is the simple breakdown of the three major kinds of trees native to Southeast Texas:
OAKS AND DEDCIDUOUS TREES
To winterize oaks is to fertilize oaks. Oaks require a mix of nutrients that promote root development and disease resistance, since oaks are particularly at the mercy of a vascular illness called oak wilt as well a few sorts of pest issues. Fertilize when the tree is well in the dormant period (Late January or early February). The nitrogen component of oak fertilizer needs to be a slow-releasing form since quick-release nitrogen can stimulate fast growth that is nutritionally void. A 19-5-9 fertilizer makeup would be a good mixture. One pound per inch diameter of tree trunk is the rule, spread evenly within the branch spread diameter of the tree. It is acceptable to use 3-6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet underneath oaks. Incidentally, this advice is applicable to most varieties of deciduous trees, even the bald cypress. Refrain from using fertilizer stakes. While fertilizer stakes appear practical because they are inserted into the ground below the turf, allowing the roots of the trees to get the maximum access to the nutrient elements rather than it going to the grass, the releasing of the nutrient elements from stakes is too localized. Going with oak fertilizer by stakes might need well over 50 stakes for most mature oaks and deciduous trees, dotted uniformly throughout the root system underneath the tree, for the tree to get the nutrition applied similarly by granulated fertilizer. Water the tree weekly in periods of little rainfall.
PINE TREES
The longleaf Loblolly pines native to Texas love acidic sandy soil and clay, and actually flourish in spite of infertile soil conditions, but they're not drought hardy. The most vital thing to do for this water-loving longleaf pine is to keep the soil most but well drained.
SABAL PALM
For everybody who endured those extreme cold snaps in February 2011, we saw that Sabal palms suffered significantly because their core temperature dropped below their cold hardy threshold. By the time it finally warmed up for good, almost all the region's Sabal palms either suffered tissue damage or died.
Never trim a Sabal palm tree right before the cold season. The bigger and fuller trees will have the better chance to live through the cold than the ones stripped of their protective frond leaves. Smaller palms can be covered for the length of a cold snap.
To fertilize, utilize a slow release fertilizer that has supplemental magnesium and calcium. Spread the fertilizer uniformly on moist soil, all the way around the trunk of the tree and work it into the soil, and make sure to water it in. Use caution to not over-fertilize a Sabal palm.
Most native Southeast Texas Trees, including the iconic tall longleaf Loblolly pine of the piney woods region, the Sabal palm, and the wide variety of oaks that grow here, are trees that prefer large amounts of water, and this region of the country is famous for high levels of rainfall. The drought has been especially mean to them. Many of these trees possess deep root systems, and this is important to know when thinking about how to supplement their soil and prepare them for the winter months.
So what can you do to guard and supplement your trees so they have the best chance to revive and thrive next year? Here is the simple breakdown of the three major kinds of trees native to Southeast Texas:
OAKS AND DEDCIDUOUS TREES
To winterize oaks is to fertilize oaks. Oaks require a mix of nutrients that promote root development and disease resistance, since oaks are particularly at the mercy of a vascular illness called oak wilt as well a few sorts of pest issues. Fertilize when the tree is well in the dormant period (Late January or early February). The nitrogen component of oak fertilizer needs to be a slow-releasing form since quick-release nitrogen can stimulate fast growth that is nutritionally void. A 19-5-9 fertilizer makeup would be a good mixture. One pound per inch diameter of tree trunk is the rule, spread evenly within the branch spread diameter of the tree. It is acceptable to use 3-6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet underneath oaks. Incidentally, this advice is applicable to most varieties of deciduous trees, even the bald cypress. Refrain from using fertilizer stakes. While fertilizer stakes appear practical because they are inserted into the ground below the turf, allowing the roots of the trees to get the maximum access to the nutrient elements rather than it going to the grass, the releasing of the nutrient elements from stakes is too localized. Going with oak fertilizer by stakes might need well over 50 stakes for most mature oaks and deciduous trees, dotted uniformly throughout the root system underneath the tree, for the tree to get the nutrition applied similarly by granulated fertilizer. Water the tree weekly in periods of little rainfall.
PINE TREES
The longleaf Loblolly pines native to Texas love acidic sandy soil and clay, and actually flourish in spite of infertile soil conditions, but they're not drought hardy. The most vital thing to do for this water-loving longleaf pine is to keep the soil most but well drained.
SABAL PALM
For everybody who endured those extreme cold snaps in February 2011, we saw that Sabal palms suffered significantly because their core temperature dropped below their cold hardy threshold. By the time it finally warmed up for good, almost all the region's Sabal palms either suffered tissue damage or died.
Never trim a Sabal palm tree right before the cold season. The bigger and fuller trees will have the better chance to live through the cold than the ones stripped of their protective frond leaves. Smaller palms can be covered for the length of a cold snap.
To fertilize, utilize a slow release fertilizer that has supplemental magnesium and calcium. Spread the fertilizer uniformly on moist soil, all the way around the trunk of the tree and work it into the soil, and make sure to water it in. Use caution to not over-fertilize a Sabal palm.
About the Author:
Katherine Parker is the Southeast Texas trees specialist for Southeast Texas Trees LLC, providing native Texas tree lovers useful information about best winter oak fertilizer and how to properly winterize indigenous Texas trees after this harsh 2011 heat wave and drought.
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