Planting and Tree Care for Roxborough Park Keith Worley, Forester ISA Certified Arborist
Where We Live: High elevation at the edge of Mountains and Plains. Harsh climates with: High winds. Drought periods and watering restrictions. Intense solar radiation. Dry winters. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4
Why you want to plant a tree? Shade Screening Energy Conservation Beauty Wildlife
Finding the right spot Allow room for full growth at maturity. Follow soils and engineering reports for your property to protect your foundation. Avoid conflicts with future uses such as utilities, lawn area, and blocking of views. Remember the future trunk flare and its relationship to concrete surfaces and fences.
Soils- Mother Earth Heavy clays are tough on trees: Shallow rooting and conflicts with turf. Do not allow for good soil atmospheres with good oxygen content. Prone to uprooting in high winds and heavy snow loads. Prone to compaction with heavy use.
Soil Amendments Incorporate organic material 12-18 inches deep and well beyond the drip line. Use well aged compost. Do not use horse manure- too hot with salts! 3 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet.
Buying Trees Look for: A central leader or main trunk. Root Collar at or slightly above ground level of the root ball. Avoid: Trees with multiple stems and no dominant leader. Plants with circling roots.
Remember: The fullest looking tree is not necessarily the best tree. A tree with a strong central leader will tolerate wind and snow.
Best Trees for our area: Conifers: Ponderosa Pine, Austrian Pine, White Fir, Douglas-fir. Deciduous: Oaks, Honey locusts, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Hackberry, Linden, Norway Maple. Refer to Recommended Trees For Colorado Front Range Communities and Trees and Shrubs for Mountain Areas
Planting Tips: Dig wide planting holes- not deep. Do not dig deeper than intended planting depth so tree will not settle. Plant 2-4 inches above surrounding grade. Mulch well beyond drip line with 2-3 inches of mulch. Water deeply and infrequently.
Remove! All twine, rope and wire from around the tree. Remove any wire baskets on the upper 2/3 rd of the root ball after it is placed in the planting hole. Remove all burlap from around or on top of the root ball.
Staking and guying Stake low on the tree. Remove after the first year. Do not leave staking on any tree for more than two years. Use webbing or old carpet strips. Do not place wire or string around the trunk. Do not use any type of hose.
Watering Reminder: Deep, infrequent watering is best for good root development and prevention of drought stress. Check regularly with soil probe. Turf watering and tree watering are not the same thing! Allow periodic drying of the root zone to allow oxygen back into the soil.
Tree Watering with drip systems Provide emitters to areas outside the root ball. Check regularly to make sure they are working. Make sure they are all on a separate zone so it can provide DEEP, INFREQUENT watering. Frequent, shallow watering promotes poor root development and does not promote drought tolerance.
Mulching Start at 0 depth at the trunk or root collar. 2-3 of mulch is enough. Do not use more than 4. Do not put mulch volcanoes around the tree.
Weed Barriers/Fabrics Please, do not use them! No soil is ever built at the mulch/soil interface. Do not allow for good air exchange.
Pruning Learn to make proper pruning cuts. Look for the branch collar and branch bark ridge. Train trees when young to avoid large cuts as the tree matures. Remove dead, dying, diseased and deformed branches.
Monitor regularly for: Watering Over watering Insect pests: Aphids and spider mites Scales Defoliators Diseases like fire blight
Contact your local ISA Certified Arborist Trained in proper tree care practices. Up-to-date on current pests in the area. Trained in Abiotic disorders. www.isarmc.org www.isa-arbor.com www.treesaregood.com