September 2017 – GreenTech Sustainable Organic Solutions

September 25, 2017

Shade Trees Hurricanes and Southwest Florida

Having just experienced the wrath of Hurricane Irma and as we are going through the cleanup process there may be a pause for thought to rid our landscapes of what we deem to be “messy” shade trees.

Yes, Hurricane Irma has become an inconvenience and so will future storms. However, it is imperative that we learn to preserve our urban tree canopy. Research over the years has confirmed the significant value and benefits that mature urban trees offer to our neighborhoods. A number of our neighborhoods have smaller trees that were decimated by Irma’s strong winds. It is these trees that are going to become mature tree canopy of tomorrow.

With new attention being paid to global warming causes and impacts more is becoming known about negative environmental impacts of treeless urban neighborhoods. We at GreenTech SOS, Inc. would like to impress upon the community at large to help save those trees that may have been adversely impacted by Hurricane Irma.

If, for some reason you are unable to save a particular shade tree and would like to consider replacing your shade tree; I would like to take this opportunity to make the following recommendations:

· replace with trees that are slow-growing trees stand a better chance against hurricanes

· native trees, especially those with a wide-spreading canopy, low center of gravity, strong deep penetrating roots, and a small leaf size may hold up better and tropical storms especially if they are growing in a cluster of trees.

· Southern Magnolias fared extremely well during Hurricane Irma. I was amazed to see very little damage to recently planted Southern Magnolias, especially in the Lakewood Ranch area. Their large leaves seem to withstand the high wind speeds.

Please find a list of “not so common” shade tree replacements for your landscape:

o Sand Oak
o Pigeon Plum
o Ironwood
o Fiddlewood
o Gumbo Limbo
o Spicewood
o Myrsine
o Marbleberry
o Green Buttonwood
o Pond Apple
o Wild Cinnamon
o Sweet Mahogany

· Finally, it is important to consider planting your trees in groves or clusters, all the while keeping in mind that a significant amount of our community trees are native trees that have evolved to withstand coastal storms and flooding.

September 24, 2017September 26, 2017

Palm Care After Hurricane Irma

It is true that many palm species are adapted to high velocity winds. However, a hurricane can damage even the most wind tolerant palm.

Sabal Palm Trees, Sarasota Florida.

The apical meristem, also known as the “bud” is the active cell division area of the palm. The apical meristem is found at the top of the trunk and is surrounded by leaf bases. All new leaves come from this bud. If the bud is damaged, new leaves failed to develop and the palm slowly dies.

It is very difficult to determine or to predict which palms will survive when damaged and which ones will not. The bud is not visible or accessible for inspection. The native Sabal Palm and the Royal Palm tend to tolerate high winds. Royal Palms tend to shed most of their leaves, while Sabal Palms/cabbage Palms tend to hold onto their leaves.

Cuban Royal Palm Trees, Southwest Florida

It is important to note that it can take up to 2 years before you will be able to determine whether a palm has recovered from a wind storm event. Recovery consists of new leaves emerging from the bud; abnormal at first but slowly becoming normally shaped, until eventually normal leaves will appear. It is recommended that damaged palms should be carefully monitored for the next 2 years.

Storm related damage to palms:

Uprooted:

Palms should be stood upright as soon as possible and replanted at the same depth they were originally planted. Bracing may be required. Braces should be kept in place for at least 6 months. Uprooted palms that are replanted should be considered newly planted. Establishment irrigation is critical and should be monitored closely.

Damage leaves:

Damaged green leaves should be left attached to the palm. Palms reallocate resources from old leaves 2 new leaves. Damaged green leaves left on the palm will allow the palm to recover quicker.

Fertilization:

For wind damaged palms that have not been uprooted, it is recommended to maintain the same fertilization regiment that was in place prior to the storm event. For those damage palms that have been uprooted and replanted, it is recommended that no extra fertilizer be applied.

Fungicides:

There is no empirical scientific research that justifies the use of fungicides after a hurricane. However, GreenTech Sustainable Organic Solutions recommends the application of copper in the form of a bud drench, together with a trunk injection of an insecticide and fungicide. It is quite possible that the apical meristem/bud may have been damaged. This recommendation is nothing more than an “insurance policy”.

September 20, 2017September 26, 2017

Compost Can Improve The Effectiveness Of Fertilizers And Improve Soil PH

The Use of Compost as a Soil Amendment – Chemical Effects: pH and CEC

Compost is recommended as a soil conditioner, soil enhancer and soil builder. Organic amendment, such as compost, will improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of your soil. Incorporating compost would increase the moisture holding capacity of our Florida sandy soils, thereby reducing drought damage to plants. When compost is added to heavily compacted soils, it will improved drainage and aeration, thereby reducing waterlogging damage to plants. Compost increases the ability of the soil to hold and release essential nutrients and promotes the activity of bacteria, fungi, protozoans, arthropods, mites, beneficial nematodes, earthworms and other important soil microorganisms beneficial to plant growth.

Compost’s pH is near neutral. It has the ability to balance pH due to the fact that it is able to boost Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Soil pH affects whether nutrients present in the soil can actually be taken up by the plant roots. Nitrogen is most available at a neutral pH because the microbes that convert nitrogen into usable forms of ammonia and nitrate operate based at near neutral pH levels.

Other nutrients are also affected by soil pH. Plants require seven micronutrients, elements essential to plant health but needed only in minute quantities. Five of these essential nutrients – Manganese, copper, iron, Zinc and Boron – become less available in alkaline (higher pH) soils. Molybdenum, on the other hand, becomes less available in acidic soils.

Soil Exchange Capacity

CEC of a particular soil is the measurement of how well the soil retains nutrients and therefore how available its nutrients are to plants.

A low CEC indicates that the soil has a low capacity for attaining nutrients, meaning that applied fertilizers quickly leach away. A hike CEC (over 50) indicates a greater capacity to retain nutrients, meaning that fertilizers can remain viable for long periods. Pure organic matter may have a CEC of 150. A loam soil will have a CEC ranging from 10 to 25, while humus has a CEC of 200.

Many plant nutrients (potassium, calcium, magnesium and ammonium, a plant available form of nitrogen) exist in soils as cations, which are positively charged ions-molecules that have lost one or more of their negatively charged electrons leaving the molecule with a net positive charge. Plays and organic matter, especially humus, tend to accumulate extra electrons, forming negatively charged particles called anions. These large anions attract and hold cations, preventing them from washing away with irrigation or rainwater.

No matter how much fertilizer you apply to a low CEC soil, you will achieve only a brief nutrient boost after which many of the nutrients will simply wash out of the soil leaving your plants deprived and your local waters polluted. Fertilizer in high CEC soil, however, will hang around longer, providing greater benefit to your plants.

Soil Topdressing and composting will greatly improve the quality of the sandy soils so common in Sarasota and across Florida and create an environment conducive to better plant health care, and a better foundation for landscape design.