• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

Help for evergreen tree that appears to be leaning

 
Posts: 3
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
So I’ve got a very tall and narrow evergreen tree that seems to be exhibiting water stress (dead needles at the growing ends) and is starting to lean somewhat. I’m in Colorado and every spring brings more trees that didn’t survive our periodically dry winters. It gets runoff from my downspout and I do occasionally do a deep soak with the hose when conditions are particularly dry. I haven’t dug a swale because I am unsure where exactly its roots are and I definitely don’t want to disturb them.

My question is concerning what plants would you suggest that I plant as a guild to help it grow deeper roots to increase its access to water and to better anchor itself? I’m thinking at least some comfrey, but I want to be sure it won’t exacerbate the situation by competing for water.

I was actually thinking of sheet mulching on top of some of the guild plants after they’ve had a chance to grow a deap tap root. I was thinking that would kill the plant and its root, leaving a nice path of organic material for the trees root to grow along. That’s a thing, right?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
Wendy Gay
Posts: 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Also I forgot to mention that there is a second evergreen growing fairly close to it that itself is growing big enough that I’m worried it might be crowding the original tree I mentioned. Not sure if this is causing additional problems. I didn’t plant either of these; they were here when I moved in.

I’d hate to cut down either of them, but also I’m not looking to deal with the damage caused by a falling tree. If I can’t improve the situation within a year or so I’m gonna resort to removing it which would make me really sad.
 
gardener
Posts: 6814
Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5
1647
hugelkultur dog forest garden duck fish fungi hunting books chicken writing homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I would concentrate on soil improvement and let the trees sort themselves out. By adding compost and fungi slurries into the soil surrounding the trees you will add greatly to their survival.
Evergreens do benefit from mycorrhizal fungi and all plants make use of bacteria and other members of the microbiome of your soil, so improving that one thing allows you to improve everything else.

Redhawk
 
pollinator
Posts: 2916
Location: Zone 5 Wyoming
517
kids duck forest garden chicken pig bee greening the desert homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
We have a lot of leaning trees due to wind here in WY. It might not be a problem at all.
 
So I left, I came home, and I ate some pie. And then I read this tiny ad:
A rocket mass heater heats your home with one tenth the wood of a conventional wood stove
http://woodheat.net
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic