Evening star., 1938-07-16
Is Your Tree
SnOthering
To Death?
Thick Layer of Soil
Will Deprive Roots
OfNecessary Air.

| HOMICIDE is to kill ones fellow
human; fractricide, ones brother:
regicide, ones king: suicide, ones self.
The act, then. OF unjstly killing ones
tree or trees might reasonably be
called "aboricide." Ignorance is no
excuse in a court of law, and while
there is no State to prosecute in the
murder Of tree, plea Of ignorance
will not serve to restore this beautiful
and valuable friend once it is gone.
A tree lover or expert will see 50
different types Of abuse being prac-
ticed on the same number Of trees
in q single hours walk along q city
street While many Of these common
abuses may be serious, one in par
ticular does untold damage to shade
trees every year This common men
ace is suffocation
Our pleasure in trees Is derived from
the beauty and shade of the limbs
branches and leaves. These parts,
however, are entirely dependent on
the roots for support and noruish-
ment. If anything happens to them
the whole tree suffers severely.
Many tree owners who fully appre-
ciate the necessity of feeding and
watering the roots, seem to forget
that they must also have air to
breathe. Having no real brea thing
apparatus, however, such as we have,
it is vital that the air come into con-
tact with all living tissues, especially
those parts active in the nourishment
of the tree, such as the growing root
tips.
The trees air needs are, naturally,
far less than ours. Nevertheless, the
precious amount they get from good
loose soil is essential to their life and
growth. Excellent examples of the
original care with which nature has
provided for this constant supply may
be found in any forest. The soft
carpet of spongy, fallen leaves cover
ing the porous forest floor. not only
holds water. but permits ready pene-
tration Of air to hard-working roots
below.
The usual steps in suffocation Of .
tree start with the selection OF an
attractive piece of shaded ground on
which to build a home. Any trees
present on the property increase its
value as homesite. As the house
nears completion, q beautiful lawn is
put in, covering every inch OF ground
except that used for gardening. About
year later, the happy owner is sur
prised to find that his nice trees are
dead or dying. When he goes to q
good authority for advice on this
unfortunate situation, he learns about
lawns and fli-ins.
Thick layers OF heavy soil, over
which lies q sitting blanket of sod,
completely deprive the roots Of any
air. and unless immediate steps are
taken the chances are rather strong
that certain death of the entire Or
ganism will result.
The first step in the treatment Of
trees which have been literally buried
alive" Is diagnosis of the extent to
which damage has occurred. II,
among other things, this preliminary
examination shows that IS per cent
or more of the roots greater than
one-half inch in diameter are dead,
the chances of recovery are slight in
deed, and money invested in treat
nient is gamble.
II, however. the examination shows
less severe condition, the smother
ing layer should be removed from the
entire area occupied by the roots i'm
mediately. Stirring, cultivating and
fertilizing the ground around the
roots now will help bring them back
to normal. The tree should be given
some time to recuperate before further
treatment in the form of installing
drainage tiles and filling in again with
. loose gravel collar around the tree
Is undertaken. Suitably placed up
right drain tiles contribute to the
future health Of the tree, by acting
as air passages, and removing excess
water to leave the soil clean and moist,
but not soggy.
You can't very well take trees
temperature, and it's hard to feel its
pulse, but you can tell a great deal
about Its condition from the appear
ance Of the leaves. Thick, rich, green
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