Quality Work, Quick Response Reasonable RatesCan you spot the new growth on the White Oak
New Growth White Oak
White Oaks are slow growers, but I am getting some great new growth on this young White Oak that I planted last year in my backyard. It is fun to keep eye on how much these young trees grow. I am comparing my White Oak with my young Black Gum tree – so far the Gum is winning! I probably could have guessed that. A picture of the Gum tree to come.
I took this picture last week, it is a great representation of new growth on a Spruce Tree that I took when on a walk. Look around, many trees are now showing their new growth towards the end of the shoots, usually lighter green than the rest of the limb. It is especially fun to look at young trees, and even measure the new growth each year. Comparing the annual growth is a good way to see how your young tree is developing!
What a Fall we have been experiencing this year, huh? One day it is 70 and sunny, the next day it is cold and cloudy. Crazy weather!! That is what you have to love about living in Northern VA. Besides the weather, it is quite a scenary to look at all the leaves change color and drop.
Why do the leaves drop? To provide a simple answer, a deciduous tree in our area with 4 seasons, trees go dormant in the Winter. Leaf drop is necessary before dormancy since the tree will not need to produce much food to get through the Cold Winter months. In the Fall/Winter, a tree uses its food reserves. It comes out of its growth phase, and goes into dormancy. Depending on the weather, this usually occurs from Nov/Dec through March/April.
As daylight gets shorter in the Fall season, less chlorophyll is in the leaf causing it to start changing colors. Photosynthesis is where the leaf’s chlorophyll (what makes the leaf green) interacts with the sun to create sugar, or food, for the tree. This phenominion stops in the Winter as a tree goes dormant.
In urban forestry, we don’t realize but when we rake those leaves away from the ground under a tree, we are actually taking a portion of the nutrients the tree needs to survive. In a forest, the leaves decompose and the organic matter leaks into the soil creating much needed nutrients for a tree. Yes, therefore trees replenish themselves, cool huh!
That is all for now, hope you enjoyed some quick food for thought! Winter is a great time for tree removal, better prices for sure as work slows.
Sean Lewett
Certified Arborist
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