(Via grow this)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2007-10-15, 10:51:00

"As we lay awake long before daybreak, listening to the rippling of the river, and the rustling of the leaves, in suspense whether the wind blew up or down the stream, was favorable or unfavorable to our voyage, we already suspected that there was a change in the weather, from a freshness as of autumn in these sounds. The wind in the woods sounded like an incessant waterfall dashing and roaring amid rocks, and we even felt encouraged by the unusual activity of the elements. He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair. That night was the turning-point in the season. We had gone to bed in summer, and we awoke in autumn; for summer passes into autumn in some unimaginable point of time, like the turning of a leaf."
Henry Thoreau, “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”

After many, many “degenerate days” with an overloaded filtration system and an exhausted ultraviolet light filter, our pond was murky and opaque. While the fish are perfectly happy with the algae, we could hardly see them. Besides, the rock where the waterfall flows was choked with algae. Algae was so thick on the big rock that the local bees were farming it for protein.

The pond lady who replaced the UV light and the biomaterial in the filter said that most of our neighbors with “water features” in their yard insist on adding chlorine to keep the water pretty. Chlorine is poison to our neighbors the birds and bees (and, incidentally, to us). Because we use filtration and UV light to manage algae instead of poison, the residents of the canyon – those that can fly over the fence anyway – prefer to drink from our pond, and to bathe in our waterfall.

Replacing the biomaterial in the filter and replacing the UV light has done wonders. Our waterfall is back, and we can now see the fish. The bees, discouraged by the decrease in algae as well as the cooler nights, have mostly moved away.

And best of all, when I awake in the mornings, I can once again hear the waterfall – perhaps not as incessant or roaring as Thoreau’s rivers – but sufficient in these degenerate days to ward off utter despair.

(Via EnjoyGardening)

Posted by admin to Current Articles on 2007-10-15, 06:17:45

first published October 4, 2007

I suppose, in some respects, it is natural to think of old trees as scaled-up versions of young ones. But as nice and as tidy an assumption as that is, it’s not quite accurate. In fact, if I were to compare older trees to anything, I’d compare them to older people: both have needs that change significantly with advancing age…both suffer dearly when those needs are ignored. So if you want your 120-year-old maple tree to retain its beauty and have the same vigor and exuberance as it did when it was a wild 80 year old, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Start by understanding that trees often experience communication problems as they age. Because older trees tend to be large, the pathways of communication between their roots and shoots become a bit arduous. Most of it has to do with the size of the tree—the movement of plant chemicals through a 100-foot labyrinth of tissue in an old tree is fraught with challenges that are non-existent in a 10-foot sapling. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help out the old fella. The first strategy is to reduce light interference.

Old trees cannot adapt easily to sudden changes in light levels, so avoid erecting or planting anything that drastically reduces the amount of sunlight that a tree is used to receiving. Tall buildings can block an enormous amount of sunlight that is essential to maintaining a tree’s health, and a tree that has grown for decades under direct sunlight won’t adapt to a sudden and drastic reduction in light.

Another environmental change that’s tough on old trees is an altered root zone. Any traffic, be it vehicular or pedestrian, that compacts the soil around an old tree’s base is detrimental to its health. Compaction ensures that less water, less oxygen and fewer nutrients can penetrate into the tree’s root zone, and poor root growth invariably leads to a decline in the health of elderly trees. When it comes to meeting those nutritional needs, keep in mind that an older tree would rather sip than guzzle (something I can relate to…), so instead of inundating the soil with fertilizer, apply a thin layer of mulch (never more than a few of centimeters!) or a bit of nitrogen fertilizer in the spring. As much as you might think you’re spoiling your tree by providing it with more than it needs, excess nitrogen will cause trees to produce lush new growth at the expense of defense chemicals, making them more prone to attack by insects and diseases.

Just as aging people often require some extraneous physical support, so too do older trees. With trees, cables and braces are the tools of choice to support any large branches that look like they might break during a strong wind, but if you really want to be proactive, pay attention to pruning. It reduces wind loads, which will go a long way to maintaining a tree’s health. Research indicates that the removal of 15–20 per cent of a tree’s branches can reduce wind load by 60 per cent—just be sure you know what you’re doing. Without proper training and equipment, you can cause a lot of damage not only to your trees, but also to yourself. So when it comes to those big jobs, hire a certified arborist—it just might save you a few braces or cables of your own.

There’s no denying that getting older always beats the alternative, but as much of a privilege as the aging process is, it’s tough to watch the slow deterioration of something or someone you thought would be strong and vibrant forever. It’s no different with trees…we find kinship with them. If you are lucky enough, perhaps you grew up climbing high into the canopy of one. And who knows, with a bit of care and luck, maybe your grandchildren and their grandchildren will come to know the joys of swinging from the same thick, old branch you did.