A
Tale of Two Trees
One happy day in May the all-American dream came true for
two families. Brand new houses of their own in the suburbs. The good life
for their kids. New friends and neighbors. More space and comfort. And good
investments, too. Now, it happened that both families loved trees, so they
each promptly planted one to commemorate their new start in life. Unknown
to each other,
both
families planted trees that were the same species and the same age. Looking
ahead, we would expect the twin trees to eventually make a nice contribution
to the neighborhood, each spreading its shade to grateful residents for generations
to come. But, it was not to be. Unfortunately, Family A had the misguided belief
that a tree should be left alone, just as it is in ... (continued on
)
...
At Planting
Family
A didn't ask for planting instructions They knew how to plant a tree. When
that was done, they believed their work was done. Actually. they were partlv
correct. You may receive instructions to the contrary, but little should be
done to the tree at this stage. In most cases, it is best to leave all the
leaf surface possible to manufacture food that will build a larger root system.
It has been found that both roots and top will be larger after one year if
left unpruned.
After
5-7 Years
The
baby is quickly becoming an adult. The results of not making corrections early
in life are now quite visible, although some are still not obvious to the untrained
eye. To the more careful observer, the form of the future crown is apparent.
After
3-4 Years
By
the time many transplants are in their new home for 2 to 4 growing seasons,
sprouts and suckers may appear. The root suckers protruding near the base sap
strength from the tree. The sprouts are disproportionally vigorous and weakly
attached to the tree. And look at the broken limb. By now, it has sprouted numerous
branches just below the break too many, in fact.
FAMILY
A's TREE -- Not Pruned When Young
15 Years After Planting
Family
A's tree is now not only unattractive, but dangerous, especially when the
wind is blowing. Lopsided and dense, the tree in full leaf catches the wind
like a sail. Also, the narrow branch angles and multiple leaders have resulted
in a weak top. The broken branch not only attracted insects, but may soon
break off under the weight of too many sprouts. Decay has entered the trunk
where the little bent branch tore off many years ago and a jagged stub protrudes
just above it. The tree is an accident waiting to happen. It is becoming more
of a liability than an asset for the property.
