Sound Is Key

Join us for the final episode of the 5th season of #TreesAreKey. Yes, it’s episode 260. Never would have imagined that we would still be chugging along five years later. You’re all still listening, so we will keep producing. For our final episode this season, we’re going to do something a little bit different. Join us for “Sound Is Key.”

Species Spotlight

This week's tree isn't botanically a tree, but it is treated and managed as one. Texas sabal palm, Sabal mexicana, is a tough, well-adapted Texas native that is one of the cold hardiest palms you can grow here. Listen to this #TreesAreKey to learn more about this wonderful palm.

Trees Are Key

We’re in the midst of a trying time for our country and the world. Social or physical distancing may be necessary to manage the current crisis, but we also have to keep in mind that community is important. Social media, like Twitter and Facebook, is helping keep people connected, but it’s also important to exercise. Just getting out of the house and saying hi to your neighbors can feel great and help you cope with stress. Join us this week as we look at some ways that “Outside Is Key.”

Species Spotlight

This week's tree can go by several names, but one of the most common give it a bad rap. Fall elm, aka cedar elm, or Ulmus crassifolia, has been inappropriately linked with "Cedar Fever" during tree adoption events. This tree is actually pretty unique because it flowers late in the summer and sets seeds in the fall, hence it's other common name "fall elm." Listen to this episode of #TreesAreKey to learn more about this tough Texas native.

Links:

#HealthyTreesHealthyLives

https://www.southernforests.org/urban/healthy-trees-healthy-lives

Visual Color Perception in Green Exercise: Positive Effects on Mood and Perceived Exertion

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e9367020c64742fe062659/t/56f12bf0e707eb7a5c1437e5/1458646020963/visual+colour+perception+in+green+exercise.pdf

Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/

Children With Attention Deficits Concentrate Better After Walk in the Park

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1087054708323000

Engagement Is Key

In a time of social or physical distancing, it’s important to keep in contact with your family, friends, colleagues, customers, followers and members. Luckily, we have more avenues for communication and contact than ever before. Take this time to consider how you engage with other people, particularly since we are putting more and more emphasis on ‘virtual’ connections. Join us this week as we explore why “Engagement Is Key.”

Species Spotlight

This week’s tree is rare, but can be found in Texas. It’s more commonly expected in the Rocky Mountains. Listen to learn more about quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides.

Trees Are Key

It’s a concerning time in many ways, but as always we strive to utilize science to inform the art of arboriculture and forestry. Join us this week as we discuss why “Science is Key.”

Species Spotlight

This week’s tree is a Texas native that goes by many names but can be tough to find in your local nursery or garden center. Call it Eastern Hophornbeam, ironwood, or Ostrya virginiana—this tree is one tough customer.

Trees Are Key

Monitoring our trees for insect, disease, and stress is important, but we can’t forget their structural integrity. A tree that grows up straight and tall is, generally, remarkably stable. Add a lean to that same tree and it’s ability to stand up is compromised…but how much? This week we’ll discuss "Keys to Measuring Leans."

Species Spotlight

This week’s tree will soon be blooming across much of Texas. Mexican-Buckeye, Ungnadia speciose, is a tough Texas native that also supports our pollinators.

Trees Are Key

Let's talk about "Keys to Anthracnose." We are already seeing symptoms of anthracnose on new leaves around Arizona ash in the Austin area. Is this something we should be concerned about? Should we start treating our trees? Listen in to learn more.

Species Spotlight

The Rio Grande Ash or Mexican Ash, Fraxinus berlandieriana, is a deciduous Texas native. This species is a medium-sized tree to 40 feet tall and a trunk to 2 feet in diameter, with a broad, densely-branched, rounded crown with branches that tend to droop towards the ground.

Trees Are Key

Let’s discuss how "Pattern of Mortality is Key" to diagnosing trees. Quoting from Dr. Appel at Texas A&M University, “Pattern of Mortality in time and space within the population of trees and patterns of mortality in time and space for individual trees’ are vital to distinguish between problems." Listen in to learn more!

Species Spotlight

The Southern live Oak, Quercus virginiana, has a wide range across the southeastern United States, as far north as Virginia and west to Texas. However, a special species of live oak exists in Texas, Quercus fusiformis. This has several common names: Texas live oak, escarpment live oak, plateau live oak, or plateau oak. The Texas live oak is also known as Quercus virginiana var. fusiformis. The range extends north to the Quartz and Wichita Mountains in southwestern Oklahoma and all the way south through Texas to northern Mexico.

Trees Are Key

Let’s discuss “Keys To Fireblight.” Forest and tree health has been a big topic lately. Let’s look at another common challenge for many of our fruit trees.

Species Spotlight

Callery Pear, Pyrus calleryana is also known as ornamental pear. This is a common small landscape tree that grows up to 20 feet tall with a trunk to 10" in diameter. It has a dense, oval, symmetrical crown.

Trees are Key

It’s amazing how a concept you put on a topic list months ago can come together with training you received last week, a television show you are watching with your spouse, and a development book you are listening to. That’s how this week’s topic came about. My original concept, which was inspired by a speaker that stated “without pain there’s no reason to change," was to explore the idea espoused in “No Pain, No Gain.” Let's talk about why "Pain is Key."

Species Spotlight

Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, is a deciduous medium-sized tree of farms and old homesteads, to 50 feet tall and a trunk to 2 feet in diameter. Native to the northeast and Midwest U.S., this species is widely planted in East Texas and has escaped from cultivation in fence rows and unmaintained fields. This tree prefers deep, well-drained, moist soil for good growth, but it also tolerates dry sites.

Trees Are Key

Let’s discuss why “Mycorrhizae Are Key.” There are detrimental fungi that we’ve talked about, like the causal organisms of oak wilt and Dutch elm disease, but there are many innocuous or helpful fungus that we should try to aid or at least not hinder them. Biologically, trees are more commonly associated with highly fungal ecosystems and grasses tend to be associated with more bacterial environments.

Species Spotlight

The Carolina Cherry-Laurel, Prunus caroliniana, is a firewise, native small or medium-sized evergreen tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall with a trunk up to 18" in diameter. This tree has a narrow, dense crown of dark green foliage.