Downed trees
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Downed trees
- From: J* S*
- Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 14:05:44 -0800 (PST)
All:
I suspect that there are a few species of trees which,
no matter what the conditions of soil or water, are
genetically prone to sending down extraordinarily deep
roots. Wind be damned.
I also suspect that there are a few trees that are
inclined, no matter what, to send out emphatically
"horizontal" root systems. These, too, seem
wind-ignorant.
But I'll betcha that the vast majority of tree species
fall somewhere in between and become victims of
conditions. Root statisticians are welcome to show me
their case for otherwise.
I know soil type, soil depth, soil layers, soil
compaction, etc. (and outright lack of "soil")
dictates how, what, when, where, and why a tree puts
its root system.
I know natural water source and supplemental
irrigation play an important role in the same process
of root production.
I know condition of plant at planting -- such as
pot-bound, root-diseased, root-damaged -- is a factor
in the ultimate rooting situation.
And then there's that criminal procedure of wrapping a
young tree tightly to a pole as if it were a splint.
Someone told someone it was necessary to hold the
young tree up.
I have no hope down the road for a pot-bound
Eucalyptus, planted on construction-compacted soil,
surrounded by lawn and the traditional frequent
shallow waterings, and staked TIGHT to an
inappropriately-short 2 by 2.
Ten years hence, a couple of days of rain followed by
an above-average wind and you can count on an
insurance agent visiting soon thereafter to see if
your car was parked in a legal spot at the time of the
accident.
"Better" tree species fair no better.
I like the title of a dog-training book by an English
author (whose name, I'm afraid, escapes me at the
moment): "No Bad Dogs". The inference: "Only Bad
Owners".
Someday, I'll write a book, "No Bad Trees".
Joe Seals
Santa Maria
St. Mary's namesake in beautiful southern-central
coastal California. We'll hit near 70° F. today.
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