Watersprouts? Suckers?

The proper name for these small-diameter shoots along the trunk and major limbs of a tree is epicormic growth. We are often asked to prune these off for aesthetic reasons, and we will generally try to convince you otherwise, at least in the short term. Due to the recent drought, we are seeing exceptional quantities of epicormic growth.

Epicormic growth occurs in response to various stressors such as soil compaction, root damage, drought, or dramatic canopy loss from severe weather or over-pruning. Dormant buds in the trunk and limbs are activated by hormonal processes, and the resultant growth is typically rapid and vigorous, but weakly attached to the primary limb. If they are allowed to grow to a large size, epicorms can become hazardous due to this weak branch attachment.

On the other hand, epicorms serve an important function by quickly creating additional photosynthetic capacity and energy to the tree under stress.

We suggest identifying a tree's stressors and determining what can be done to mitigate them before removing epicormic growth. For example, a tree suffering from drought stress and showing a thin upper canopy will often produce abundant epicorms along the lower trunk and limbs. If drought conditions can be mitigated by providing adequate water and nutrients, the upper canopy may be restored. Once it is back to health, removal of epicorms may be reevaluated.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions?

Hi, folks!

I wanted to make everyone aware of the important conversations that are beginning to occur in our industry and in our city surrounding the next stage of water restrictions. I'll be posting more about this in the upcoming months, but suffice it to say that the effects of Stage 3 water restrictions could alter our landscape for many, many years to come.

In case you are of the "oh, that will never happen" mindset, be aware that discussions are already being held within the city offices to determine what the next level of water restrictions will look like. They might not call it "Stage 3" - it might be "Stage 2-A", or Stage 2-B" - but it will most assuredly involve further restrictions on outdoor watering. At some point, we may no longer be permitted to water our landscapes at all.

Here is a link to a Facebook group dedicated to this discussion, if you'd like to follow:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/austinstage3/

More to come on this subject, trust me!
- K

Yard-Staging for Home Sellers

If your home is still on the market, like many Austin homes, maybe the problem is curb appeal. Yard-staging is an important component of getting a home off the market. Real Estate agents suggest pruning trees, applying mulch and babying your lawn. We can help.

Remember, many HOAs have minimum front yard tree requirements. Trees help a property look beautiful, and they also decrease air conditioning costs as they provide much needed shade (not to mention privacy between neighbors and streets.)

Just Trees knows what it takes to baby your heritage trees and younger plants. We can work with you through a free consultation to help design a care plan that is affordable and will help your home sell. MSN Real Estate wrote an article about affordable ideas to up the appeal of your yard. It can be as easy as pruning your trees and adding a hammock to make your home feel like an oasis to potential buyers. Happy staging!

How to Water and Make it Count in a Drought

This drought is shaping up to be one of the worst in our areas history. We need your intervention to save our area trees. Please contact us if we can assist you at your property.

I know we are all sensitive about Austin's water supply so we don't want to water our trees unless we make it count! Here is some important information about watering your trees, provided by the Houston Chronicle. That's right, even damp and humid is Houston is lacking rain this year:

A watering schedule that maintains a lawn in a drought won't adequately maintain trees, foresters say.

Water slowly and deeply to avoid runoff and evaporation. How much depends on the tree:

Give a small, 1-year-old tree 28 gallons of water a week, a 2-year-old tree 56 gallons a week, and a 3-year-old about 112 gallons a week.

For larger trees, it's easier to use the general formula of 10 gallons per inch of trunk diameter (measured at knee height) each week during drought.

"Older, established trees have more extensive root systems, but still might not find enough water in the soil during a drought to stay in good health," said Mickey Merritt of the Texas Forest Service.

The key, he said, is a long, slow soaking, so water can penetrate deeply into the root zone. Options include:

• Turn the hose on at a trickle, and let water soak into the ground under the drip line or canopy until that area is saturated about 18 inches deep. After about two hours, move the hose to another area and repeat.

• Coil a soaker hose around the tree, as near the drip line as possible. Let it run several hours to slowly soak the soil.

• Poke three small holes in the bottom of 5-gallon buckets and place them beneath trees, then fill the buckets so the water slowly seeps into the soil.

• Purchase slow-release systems such as Ooze Tube and Treegator, which Merritt said are beneficial in watering young trees.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/gardening/features/7645889.html#ixzz1TPiY0dDH

Get to watering, ya'll! And call us if we can help you curb the damage of the season by pruning, fertilizing or removing.

Community

Anyone who knows us on a personal level (which I like to think most are clients feel), knows that the Just Trees family is BIG on community. We live out on a dirt road with 4 houses of neighbors and we take part in important milestones and even more important family dinners and chores with one another. Two sets of neighbors even stayed up all night to create Kristina's big girl room for her birthday surprise.

This summer has offered us even more opportunity to get together. Last weekend was my (muffle muffle)th birthday and neighbors and friends turned out in full force! My birthday is the 4th of July. Little K participated in a parade early in the morning that she was sure as all for me. It's so sweet that my little one felt all of Austin was out with balloons and fanfare to celebrate her momma.

Later in the day, we were joined by many to BBQ and enjoy our new "redneck" pool, my birthday gift. Even without the usual Austin fireworks the festivities banged on into the late evening. It feels wonderful to be so supported by our adopted family.

Neighbors are truly an asset to a family. I hope you will be encouraged to get out and meet those who live near you. It's more than a borrowed cup of sugar (or in our case, someone to pick up milk for Little K on their way home). Neighbors form a foundation and keep you in line, making sure your actions match your beliefs.

As a favorite classic movie, The Matchmaker, tells us, "A man can survive without his wallet, but not without his friends."

There are many more gems in this movie, and I encourage you to add it to your Netflix que. Here's one I'd like to dedicate to our office assistant, Katie, for her upcoming 25th birthday,

"The very young are almost as smart as the very old, Cornelius. It's in the middle that you get in all the trouble."

Sprayer

We have several water sprayers like this around the back yard. Some we fill with water for our potted plants and garden. Others we use to spray for bugs (like scorpions) around the parameter of the patio and the house.

What’s great about these little babies is that by pumping the pressure valve at the top, the sprayer will send a continuous mist of water or liquid where you need it. You know how tired your hands can get with a hose sprayer. We love it because little K can get involved!

My neighbors even used one to scotch guard a new rug. Apparently, squeezing the bottle nozzle over and over for the entire area of a living room rug got old.

The sprayers don’t have to be expensive, but putting in a little more cash can keep you from constant replacements. Find them at your local hardware store like Lowe’s, Home Depot or our own local Breed and Co. I hope it helps you combat the drought and keep your plants blooming and your tomatoes tasty!

Here's a link to a video about a fantastic project going on down at Deep Eddy. In reality, it's been in the works for a long time. We're especially excited about it because Kristina and I and some friends have been helping to make the tiles! We're going to have to head down there and look for the ones we signed....

Check out the new mural at http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/279022/local-wonders--deep-eddy-mural-project

See you at the swimming hole!

The eight months from October 2010 through May 2011 have been the driest eight-month period on record for Texas since 1895. Rainfall in Austin was 38 percent of normal. We enter the summer season in an “exceptional drought.” Homeowners need to be on the defensive when it comes to saving their trees.

Temperatures have hit triple digits earlier than usual this year, with three 100+-degree days in Austin in May. With little water coming in, the region's two water supply reservoirs, lakes Travis and Buchanan, together are about 60 percent full, with about 1.2 million acre-feet in combined storage.

Mulch can help protect the root systems of your trees by keeping water in the soil. Remember to water your trees whenever the soil is dry to the touch. Yes, water bills will go up but this can keep your tree alive through the dry season. I have many friends opting to abandon their plants and gardens during this time and choosing instead to water their trees. Where do you get more bang for your buck?

Because soil is parched, it will take about 5 to 6 inches of rain in the basin to begin to produce significant runoff. That amount of rain appears highly unlikely this summer, unless a tropical storm brings rainfall to the region. Odd that one region’s hurricane could be another’s hope for survival.

Stay cool, Austin families! This weekend, like most, you can find us at Deep Eddy Pool!

Source: http://www.lcra.org/water/drought/index.html

Kristina's Big Girl Room

This past weekend was one of the busiest for the Just Trees family. On Friday night we worked side by side with our neighbors until 4:00 AM to put together a surprise for Kristina. On Saturday morning we unveiled it to her, a brand new big girl bedroom for her birthday! From lunch until dinner we entertained fourteen four year olds and their parents in celebration of Kristina turning four years old!

As much work as it was my favorite part of the weekend was putting together that room. We transformed Kristina’s nursery/storage room into the place of her dreams. She sees it as her “princess fairy” room, but I love it because it’s a good mix of the pink and frills she loves with the green, florals and practical pieces I love. I think it will stand the test of time and she can grow up in this room. We got a lot of inspiration from the site project nursery. I’m so proud of what we came up with, especially on the small budget we decided was appropriate for a four year old’s room. I’m thinking of posting the room to project nursery see how well others like it, too.

Anyone with a daughter or granddaughter may know about the “princess fairy” obsession that takes over little girls when they enter school. How does it happen that two rugged arborists get together and make a baby who insists on wearing twirly skirts and glittery shoes every day? I'm interested in picking up the book “Cinderella Ate My Daughter.” Has anyone read it? I’ve decided to compromise with the pink but to stay hard nosed with her about what makes people special. It’s not about pretty.

Children should be taught to work on their character and their treatment of others. That’s how you can be the best you can be. Sometimes I worry there are still mixed messages sent to young girls about where their focus should lie. Wow, Markus and I have been parents for four years! It doesn’t get any easier, but it gets more and more fun!

W o n d e r B a l l 2 0 1 1

If anyone is looking for a great event supporting a great cause, here's one for tomorrow night. Daddies and daughters only! Kristina and Markus will be there, so keep your eye out if you go!:

W o n d e r B a l l 2 0 1 1

Full flush of spring

Now we're in the thick of it. The full effects of last year's drought are becoming evident. I feel like I've been looking at nothing but stressed-out trees and lost causes. What a shame. Note to selves, people - get your irrigation systems set up NOW for the coming summer. Soaker hose - it's cheap!!

One side-effect of the vast number of trees needing to be removed is that I've had plenty of occasions to pull tree permits lately. Or at least inform people that they're going to need one. Our new Heritage Tree ordinance is catching a lot of people by surprise, although I'm not sure why it should.

The new ordinance protects - and defines as a "Heritage Tree" - any tree that measures 24" diameter at breast height (4.5 ft. off the ground) or larger. For residential properties, any tree 19" or greater was already considered protected, and for commercial properties, trees 8" or greater were - and are - protected (and YES, condo-complexes and apartment buildings, you are considered commercial). The "Heritage Tree" thing just adds an additional layer of protection on to trees that were already protected. For the vast majority of you, the procedure for obtaining a removal permit will effectively be the same as it used to be.

To our builders and developers: Now, more than ever, it is critical that you have a pre-construction consultation. Too many times over the last few months, I've been called to a site that has been red-tagged for violating tree ordinances. And it's so completely unnecessary! The down-time can cost you thousands of dollars and then you'll be subject to the immediate costs associated with mitigation. You can prevent this by simply making the initial investment in a consultation before you begin. Once you unwittingly trench through those roots in the critical root zone, you can't un-sever them. Do you even know where the critical root zone is? Because it's worth a lot of money for you to educate yourself. Or simply hire someone who knows.

Here's a link to the actual ordinance:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/trees/downloads/final_heritage_ordinance.pdf

Enough of my diatribe. I have an early-morning red-tag situation to go look at.......

Discovering the east side parks....

Tired of Zilker, the Greenbelt, Shipe, Waterloo, Pease? Let me introduce you to the east side parks!

Little K and I spent a beautiful Friday afternoon out at my favorite, Big Webberville Park (as opposed to the "little" Webberville park). Just head east out MLK/FM-969, pass under the toll road, pass Austin's Colony, continue on past the little burg of Webberville itself, and you'll eventually make it to the Big Webberville Park. While I enjoy the endless possibilities for entertainment down at Zilker, and it's wonderful if my only goal is to wear my kid out, I think there's something to be said for a wide-open, old-school park with just enough to do, but without all the logistical hassles and overstimulation of the urban super-park. You'll find playground equipment, a basketball court, convenient facilities, a boat launch, waterside trails and a pier, but all in a sort of de-centralized, lazy arrangement that encourages picnics, fish-watching, and games with sticks and rocks (remember those?). You won't worry if your child wanders 100 feet away, because you'll still be able to see them. There will probably be a couple of other people there, but you'll most likely learn their names after 10 minutes or so. You won't fight for a parking space. You'll probably, in fact, wonder if the park is always so empty. And the good news is, it is. As far as the trees go, think about the shameful condition of fully 1/2 of Zilker's trees, and picture the opposite. Big Webberville boasts a park full of great big shade trees, healthy and happy, with nice big picnic tables nestled into their shade. So bring the kids and the cooler. And maybe a fishing pole....

OR, you can put your canoe in over at the Little Webberville park (rentals available at Cook's Canoes - right up the driveway), and take a slow paddle - about 3 hours or so - down to Big Webberville park. For a small fee, Cook's will pick you up and take you back to your car. Little Webberville has a tiny playset and a porta-pottie, but that's about it other than the boat ramp. And your boat had better be small.

For a full-service park, check out East Metropolitan Park. It's got it all. Playing fields (the website says there are 2 soccer fields - but it looks more like 10 to me!), fishing, picnic areas, hiking trails, playgrounds, and a swimming pool. The kid's pool is fantastic, with slides and fountains, while the lap pool is separate and supervised. Admission to the pool is free with a YMCA membership, by the way. Despite all these amenities, though, it never feels crowded or overwhelming - probably because it sprawls over 273 acres! Now that's a park!

Spring is almost here!

I love this time of year. The buds are swelling on most of the trees, fruit trees are blooming, and live oaks are changing their leaves. Pretty soon, we'll be seeing the fresh kelly green of the first cedar elm leaves - our harbingers of spring - and the live oaks will, hopefully, be exchanging those stressed-out, buggy, fungus-y leaves for some nice fresh ones. Last year was hard on them. Let's cross our fingers (and knock on wood?) that this year is kinder.

Finally, our Texas mountain laurel will bloom this year. Sheesh. We've had it in the ground for about five years, and it's never bloomed for us! Pear and peach and plum trees are also blooming - including the native Mexican plums, which we can smell from a mile away.

I had a lovely time visiting the JBG gardens on Saturday, and bought a few heirloom tomatos - check them out, especially if you're on the east side: http://www.jbgorganic.com/ I believe they are continuing their plant sale next weekend, and they may be giving another Slow Food tour. If you go, be sure not to miss the giant Live oak by the parking area!

Notes From The Understory

Dear friends,

With all the enthusiasm and good intentions of a first-time blogger, I thought I'd share today's good experience with you. Markus and I, by virtue of our business, look at lots - I mean, lots - of trees that are suffering for one reason or another. Mostly urban trees - trees in subdivisions, trees along sidewalks, in fence lines, over houses.... We do what we can to help these trees, and sometimes, unfortunately, there isn't much we can do. Trees are living organisms, and, like humans, they can only cope with so much. The drought of '09 has meant a huge increase in the number of times we've had to say "there's not much we can do." And it's depressing not only for the homeowners to whom we have to deliver the bad news, but also for us. We hate to see so many trees succumbing to drought stress and all of the factors that complicate and exacerbate it- like fungus, bacteria, soil compaction, over-pruning, mechanical damage.... I know, from talking to fellow tree company owners, that we're not alone in our sentiment.

So it was a particular joy today to visit with a client who has just purchased a property with virgin, untouched, trees. We looked at Live oaks that, best we can tell, have never been pruned, never been subjected to construction or soil compaction over their critical root zones, never been treated for any ailment, and never been fertilized. In short, they have never been interfered with. They've grown exactly where nature intended: in soil with just the right soil structure, just the right drainage, and just where that acorn happened to land.

And they are gorgeous. And huge. What a privilege to be asked to care for trees like these! Although they are full of dead wood, with grapevine aggressively entwining and limbs sprawling on the ground, it struck me how much more compromised our urban trees are, compared to these, from the very get-go (and by the way, in the preceding list, the only true threat to the overall health of a tree would be the grapevine). This is not news, I suppose. (And therefore not blog-worthy?) I know that for many people this is instinctual knowledge. But I think it's something we all must remember - arborists and homeowners alike. We ask our urban trees to live and thrive in environments that are a very far cry from what nature intended. And sometimes this is a very tall order. That said, we do have some excellent science on our side, don't we? The urban forest thanks you, scientists.

'Night folks!

P.S. I'll post photos of these fantastic trees tomorrow if the owner will let me.....