Trees Could Use Helping Hand Or Two

It won’t be long before trees take on the rich hues of fall. The cool nights and bright sunny days will signal it’s the season. The dominant green chlorophyll in the leaves will give way to the hidden colors of bright yellows, reds and burgundies.

It seems, though, that some trees have gotten a jump-start on fall. Their leaves are changing before their time. This premature fall color could be a sign of tree stress.

After the extremely hot, dry summer of last year (36 days of temperatures in the 90s), coupled with this year’s dry summer, it would be safe to say our trees are under stress.

It’s not uncommon for a large, fully mature tree to take up 250 to 600 gallons of water a day. Add the fact that the majority of tree roots in a landscaped yard are in the top 18 inches of soil. Obviously, providing enough water to trees can be difficult, if not impossible, during these extreme conditions.

If only one or two branches are showing premature fall color, it could be a sign of a disease taking hold. Or it could be a particular root or group of roots that is being stressed by lack of water or injury. If the entire tree is coloring prematurely, there is a possibility that the entire root system is being compromised.

What can we do? If you’re questioning the overall health of the tree, contact a certified arborist. Have the tree inspected for insects, disease or injury. Above all, water.

Don’t place the sprinkler or hose at the base of the tree. The roots that pick up water and nutrients are outside the drip-line of the tree. (The drip-line is an imaginary line under the tips of the furthest-reaching branches.)

If your plants seem stressed by lack of water, check the soil after watering. Jab a shovel six to eight inches into the ground. Push the shovel forward and feel the soil.

If it’s moist eight inches deep, you’re probably supplying enough water. If it’s only moist a few inches deep, you must apply more water and apply it slowly.

I don’t mean to end on a glum note, but to add to the dilemma, stressed trees are always more susceptible to winter injury or death. For now, about all we can do is water, water, water.

Crawling things

If you’ve noticed small straw-colored patches in your grass that seem to develop into larger straw-colored patches, the grass may be infested with grub-like insects called leather jackets.

The adult, resembling a large mosquito, is called a crane fly. In order to make sure these thugs are the culprits destroying the lawn, you’ll need to investigate the discolored areas. The grubs are tough-skinned, one-inch-long, gray-brown, segmented insects. Look carefully. Because they are dark colored, the are easily overlooked as small dirt clods. Flooding the area with the hose will often bring them to the surface.

Though most grubs feed in the spring, we’re seeing damage from active grubs this fall. If you locate leather jackets, control them now by applying the granular form of the insecticide Dursban.

Growing things

If you would like to grow garlic, now is the time to plant it for next summer’s harvest. By planting now, the cloves can establish roots and a bit of growth. This will put them ahead of the growing season next spring.

One major key to raising successful garlic is making sure that water can drain through the soil. To insure this, work plenty of organic matter into the ground prior to planting.

Plant garlic by breaking the bulbs apart into individual cloves. Plant the scarred or flat end down. Cover them with two to four inches of soil. When temperatures drop around freezing, mulch the bed with six to eight inches of leaves or pine needles.

As to which variety to plant, there are literally dozens to choose from. Hardneck and artichoke types are the hardiest, each having many varieties that come with their own unique flavors. Have fun and plant one of each.

Though elephant garlic isn’t a true garlic (it’s a leek), it does have very mild garlic flavor. Each clove of elephant garlic should be planted four to six inches deep. It, too, should be mulched before cold weather arrives.

< This sidebar appeared with the story: GARDENING TIPS Contest deadline Last call for garden tips! Don’t forget to send in your best gardening tips for one last chance at winning our Garden Tip Contest; entry deadline is Thursday. The best tip will be chosen on Oct. 1 with the winner receiving a new garden book. Send your gardening tips to: Garden Tip Contest, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210 or by e-mail to susanm@spokesman.com. Or you can submit your entry in our online gardening section at www.spokane.net/garden. You may enter as often as you like but be sure to include your name, address and phone number with each entry.