The Weekly Tree Report
2/20/25, Gracias!
Is it really a weekly thing if it takes me nine days to create the next page on my blog? Oh well, who's counting other than me. It's been an eventful week to say the least, so I hope the stories you read will be fun and exciting. It's also almost March, and happy late Valentines day!
Section Red: Grandma's Tree
A eulogy to grandma's tree. It once stood very tall and bright, but over time it fell apart. It was gorgeous as it swayed in the wind, yet it's time had come eventually. All that's left is stubs on stubs and a rot pocket.
The twilight of a once stunning tree, picture by yours truly.
Don't you love trees though? I mean the cycle of life is really fun in a way. It's a domino effect when it to trees and as time goes on, trees die and trees grow. Isn't that fun?
Its one of those things you grew to love as you visited Grandma's house every week. The tree was no doubt the largest shade, and it was old too! No doubt either that it will sucker out as all trees do when they're topped, but I wonder if this is a removal altogether. It doesn't help that the house is getting older and the roots of the tree would damage the foundation. I've already seen the evidence through cracks on the floor. But hey, it's the cost of growing a massive tree in the front of your yard.
Section Green: My Gardening Guide
How would I start a garden? Good question. Garden work takes time and effort, and even when you do put in the commitment, nature can just flip you over and dunk you in the toilet. But never fret, the lifelong quest of gardening is something that will keep you on your toes when you're so senile you don't even have toes anymore!
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| https://housefresh.com/the-most-beautiful-gardens-in-the-world-according-to-tourists/ |
So let's begin. First, spacing is by far the most key thing when it comes to gardening. There is no point, zilch, if you do not have enough space to grow crops, plant trees, or even plot a greenhouse down. You'll only have the garden decline over time and end up costing hundreds of dollars trying to use temporary solutions to never fix the underlying problem. All plants need space, it's very ideal that you give a plant enough root room so that it doesn't complicate the foundation of your abode. Also, plan to create structures in order to temper the natural world around your plants. If you predict someday that it will snow, then you should try to build a roof over the crops. No crop likes snow, almost none even survive it. Also, be very aware of the potential hindrances surrounding any property. Electrical and power lines are game enders for inhabiting a beautiful tree due to regulations set by city protocols, and irrigation lines should also be considered in a garden as well.
If you are going to plant a tree as well, be aware of the risks of growing a tree for a long time. Research the trees you are going to plant. For example, a citrus tree like a persimmon will not and can not be tended to in the same way of a coastal live oak or a red alder or a copper beech. No tree has the same requirements to flourish or nurture it. Also, know what the end product of the tree you are going to plant will look like. Essentially, species of trees can grow wider than they are taller, and vice versa. If you were to plant something like the common Texas evergreen oak, ensure that you have a decent amount of space around it so that the branches will not hit the house. You must also consider what the goal of your garden as a whole is. Are you trying to garner fruit? Then make sure you grow the fruits that acclimate to your area the best. Or, even better, use a green house to foster the growth of smaller fruit plants. Strawberry plants are very good when put in a green house, as it is not very hardy to the winter. Essentially, most fruit trees do not fare well in the winter, so try to protect them from the cold the best to your ability. That goes commonly with most flowering plants in general as well, such as the hibiscus. Most of the time, even in Texas winters, they die over the cold and we have to yank them out the ground again. Of course, there are many outliers, but the climate of your area will always dictate what kind of natural growth you can have.
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| https://www.idl.idaho.gov/winter-tree-care-protection-and-identification-take-2/ |
Once you establish that, the rest comes fairly easy. Locate a local greenery or garden center and find the plants that fit your garden the best. Don't be too concerned about color theory, because in reality, its whatever looks nice around your humble abode rather than the artistic value. Plus, be aware that you may find some critters who may join you (or harm you) on your garden journey. If you really want to, you can find online vendors that sell trees that are fairly uncommon in your region. For example, one of the rarest trees you can find in Texas, and for good reason, is the Japanese maple. Now when I fly to Philadelphia, I always see those luscious, flamboyant leaves that sway in the wind, coming in blood red or hearty green. They're some of the most lucrative, expensive, yet gorgeous trees that Mother Nature has supplied us. However, they hate the heat. Texas, the world's finest panhandle, is also comparable to a pan on the stove. It's hot. Japanese maples don't do well, but if you truly want one, you can find a way to help it survive in different environments. When you decide which tree to plant, make sure that you do not cover the base of the tree in soil. This will cause the imminent decline of a tree due to a condition known as basal crown rot, which is a result of burying a trunk in soil or any substance really. Over time, the bark under the soil will soften and the wood itself will weaken, causing the tree to be at risk of toppling, or worse. Make sure that you do not bury your tree, and leave the main stem and buttress roots a good amount of area to "breathe" to prevent said basal crown rot.
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| https://springvalegardencentre.co.nz/product/acer-p-oregon-sunset/ |
Please be aware of the time commitment that a garden requires, especially when it comes to fruit trees. You should always pick fruit out as soon as its ripe, because if not, the fruit tree will keep pumping its energy into keeping the fruit and nurturing it as it rots, which is a huge detriment to your fruit trees. If you keep the fruit hanging on the tree, not only is it unsightly, but you could be harming your tree as well. As you nurture your garden, you'll come to know when fruits start to form and when they ripen, so make sure you accommodate some time towards your garden. Be aware of the conditions of your garden as well, and make sure to keep up with the weather in case a storm is coming or worse. All plants and trees are to be maintained to your liking, but to prolong your garden's life, you should avoid making too many decisions and allow the trees to grow on their own.
Just like humanity, a tree can not survive without assistance. While it is recommended to hire a tree professional or arborist in order to check in on your plants and trees, you can do some fairly simple tasks on your own. For example, you can dead wood a tree, or remove the dead branches using a saw of any kind. Be careful to maintain the branch bark collar when you make these cuts, or just don't cut a branch too far back to where its too close to the main stem. Start out by cutting the branch around three to five feet from the main stem on the underneath side around half way. This is to prevent bark from tearing too far and accidentally harming your tree. Also, it is very important to understand that the ends of a tree are often the heaviest part, rather than the wood itself. If you are not careful while cutting a branch, you could end up with a torn limb of the tree entirely, which is susceptible to rot, fungal infections, and is all around unsightly. Once you have made your undercut, go around three inches further away from the main stem and cut on the top until the branch falls. Then, to ensure you do not have a stub left behind, cut the branch while maintaining the branch bark collar (the area in front of the swelling where a tree branches off) at an angle nearly perpendicular to the branch itself. A visual representation will be provided if the steps are unclear. Now, precaution is needed when cutting branches, but also make sure that you do not trample around the roots of a tree. Over time, this can cause damage to the integral parts of a tree's root system, such as the lateral roots that provide the tree with water and nutrients from the soil.
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| Cutting diagram |
With that out of the way, the final part to maintaining a garden is acceptance and patience. Virtues in life, the real world, and life, the garden, often go hand in hand. There will be times where things go wrong. You're no Akinator, you don't know whether a tree is as rotted as you think it is. You don't know if hail is going to wreck your garden one day and pummel your infrastructure, or whether a drought will last for three months long. And while there are things you can do to protect your garden from dangers like these, you should acknowledge that you cannot attend to your garden all the time. Sometimes, you just have to learn to accept that when things go wrong, there aren't things you can do to really help the situation. However, by being patient with the processes, over time, your garden will slowly culminate into a beautiful jungle-like place if you simply have the patience to let your trees and flowers grow as nature intends. I wish you well on your garden journey.
Section Blue: Ampersand
The tree world is a very fun world to think about. It's an interesting thought to wonder what it would be like to be a tree. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
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Section Absinthe: Luka Dončić
The feeling of letting go. It's a feeling I wish upon no one, but it's a feeling that everyone knows. May we pay peace to some of the fallen trees I've witnessed.
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| Farewell to the fallen trees. |
There is a tree that fell over near an old abandoned property. It was uprooted for around a week before, obviously, the city took care of it. It was a large old oak. I saw a lot of pockets of decay and I was always curious on when the tree would succumb. Turns out it was sooner than I anticipated.
Section Veridian: Medium-Rare Steak
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| https://www.heathrilesbbq.com/blogs/favorite-recipes/wagyu-denver-steaks-on-the-traeger-ranger |
Section Finale: Integration by Parts
I appreciate for those who read all the way down here. If you have read down here, the first person to comment what my third favorite tree is gets $5. I promise. Thank you for reading, have a great day or night.
