 | SICK TREE DAY |
 | Sick Tree Day is an opportunity to have experienced eyes look at tree problems. The Paonia Tree Board recruits a CSU tree expert, an entomologist (bug guy) and several experienced Master Gardeners to make house calls to look at ailing trees. This has been an annual event starting in 2020. The event typically takes place near the third weekend in June with a sign-up sheet posted in town hall. Past experts have included Susan Carter (CSU extension tree expert, Jim Leser, retired etymologist (insect PhD) and several members of the CSU Master Gardener program. |
Other diagnostic opportunities:
- You can submit questions and samples to the TriRivers Extension 0ffice in Delta by email, by phone, or in person.
- For $25 the CSU Master Gardener diagnostic group will make a site visit to look at problems. Call Tri-Rivers extension service office in Delta.
Lessons Learned for all of us:
There are some patterns and recurring problems that are worth knowing about:
- Watering too close to the trunk. As the tree grows, the water gathering roots grow outwards. Water deeply at or beyond the outer edge of the branch tips, the dripline. How often and how long? Use a long screwdriver or any metal rod to measure soil moisture. If the probe slides into the soil easily and comes out with a muddy film on it, the soil is wet. slides easily, no muddy film, medium. If it is hard to push into the soil, the soil is dry. Water to 12″ deep. Beyond that, there are few roots in our type of soil.
- Water in winter, about once a month. Many trees are dying because we had a fall freeze, dry winter, and spring freeze, on top of a drought year. More than a tree can bear.