Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
4/24/00
Contacts:
Jeff Iles, Department of Horticulture, (515) 294-0029,
iles@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
Yard and Garden Column for the Week Beginning April 28
How to Succeed with Plants
By Jeff Iles
Extension horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension
Have you ever attended one of those high-priced, high-powered, self-help seminars? You know, the ones with titles like, "Become Wealthy Just by Watching Television." Or, "Lose Weight with the Amazing Doughnut Diet." You pay your $350 registration fee, dine on a sumptuous box lunch, listen to an impeccably dressed speaker drone on for hours and during the drive home you realize the big take-home message was ... just smile more! Well, don't worry. There's no extra charge for reading this article, I won't offer you a stale sandwich with pickle garnish and as I pen this piece you should know that I'm nattily attired in jeans and an old T-shirt. What I can offer you, however, is a solid 10-step program that will help you get the most out of your trees and shrubs. In other words, I'm going to tell you "How to Succeed with Plants."
1. Evaluate the site.
Health, appearance and longevity of landscape plants are
directly influenced by the chosen site. A poor match
between plant and site conditions will lead to either plant
mortality or an unacceptable high level of maintenance.
Because vigor of landscape plants is intimately related to the volume of soil available for root growth, it is important to evaluate the below-ground growing space. When a root system is restricted, top growth will slow but not stop. Over time, the root system will become proportionately smaller relative to the size of the expanding crown. This can lead to water stress, insect and disease problems, and a shorter life expectancy.
Equally important is an evaluation of the above-ground growing space. Potential constraints on above-ground portions of trees and shrubs include power and communication lines, buildings, fences, vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and existing plants. Simply put, know how large plants will grow and position them accordingly in the landscape.
2. Consider soil drainage.
Roots, responsible for water and mineral element uptake,
energy storage, the synthesis of important organic compounds
and plant anchorage, require oxygen to function. But,
poorly-drained, compacted, fine-textured soils are
frequently oxygen-deficient, which can lead to poor growth
and even death. When dealing with poorly-drained soils, use
species tolerant of those conditions, install plant
materials slightly higher (above grade) than you normally
would in a well-drained soil, or avoid planting on the site
altogether.
3. Consider winter and summer hardiness.
Consider a plant's ability to tolerate both high and low
temperatures when selecting it for a given region. If you
decide to use plants not totally suited to your area, give
them the most protected site on your property. Courtyards,
areas sheltered by other large plants or eastern exposures
typically have more moderate microclimates than more exposed
areas.
4. Pay attention to planting depth.
Planting too deep, either intentionally or unintentionally,
will cause trees and shrubs to die within months of
installation, or lead to other chronic problems (girdling
roots, stem or trunk rots, etc.) that only serve to shorten
the lives of landscape plants.
5. Deliver appropriate amounts of water.
Water management is clearly the most important task for
owners of newly-planted trees and shrubs, however, proper
frequency and amount needed will vary according to area
rainfall, moisture-holding capacity of the soil and the
site's drainage characteristics. Too much water,
particularly if the planting site is poorly-drained, can
easily kill landscape plants.
6. Be kind to your plants.
For trees and other landscape plants to perform as they were
intended, they must be afforded protection from all forms of
"people pressure." Wounds to trunks and branches
administered by vehicles, bicycles, hot charcoal, lawn
mowers and string-trimmers can injure plants directly and/or
predispose them to secondary attack by insects and
disease-causing pathogens.
7. Avoid problem plants.
Landscape plants poorly-adapted to a region and those with
serious insect and disease problems should be avoided.
8. Don't injure your plants during construction
projects.
As landscape plants mature, they attain a rather delicate
balance with their surrounding environment. In fact, woody
plants grow best in an environment where change is minimal.
Unfortunately, our urban, suburban and even rural landscapes
are places where drastic changes occur with regularity.
Disruptive activities like driveway and sidewalk
installation, grade changes, road widening and utility
trenching in the vicinity of trees and shrubs can cause
substantial root injury and, in some cases, death.
9. Protect your plants from animals.
Deer, rabbits, voles, horses and dogs top the list of
animals that cause problems for landscape plants. Because
repellents often are ineffective, high value plants should
be protected with fencing to prevent injury.
10. Watch out for well-intentioned maintenance
practices.
Remember, anything you wrap around the trunk or stem of a
plant might cause problems. Tree wrap, plastic tubing and
staking materials should be inspected frequently to prevent
girdling injury.
Oh yeah. And when you're out in the yard, try to smile more.
ml: isugarden
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