Sick Trees
By Bruce Lee Deuley - 7/30/03

Many things happen that affect the health of our trees. Lightning strikes, high winds and other natural disasters are beyond our control. However, other problems such as wrong planting and maintenance techniques, too much or too little water and the selection of the wrong type or species of trees for the intended growing area are within our control and should be considered before planting a tree in our landscape. Remember, trees are usually long-lived and become a part of your yard or many years to come.

Healthy trees can resist insect pests and diseases. Have you ever noticed oak wilt does not bother some trees - especially those that are mulched and where the natural habitat under trees has been maintained? Its only anecdotal evidence so far but trees and plants that have been kept and maintained under a good organic program have many less problems and are healthier than those kept with synthetic fertilizers and chemical pest controls.

Here is a formula originally promoted by Howard Garrett that will make your trees healthy and less likely to be attacked by disease and pests and is especially good for trees that are in stress or that have been neglected or injured.

1. REMOVE EXCESS SOIL FROM ABOVE ROOT BALL. A very high percentage of trees were planted too low in the ground. Soil on top of the root ball smothers the tree and leads to circling and girdling roots. Soil, or even heavy mulch, on trunks keeps the bark constantly moist, which can rot or girdle the tree.

2. AERATE THE ROOT ZONE HEAVILY. Start between the drip line and the trunk and go far out beyond the drip line. A 7-12” depth of the aeration holes is ideal but any depth is beneficial. An alternative is to spray the root zone with a living organism product or bio-stimulant such as Deuley’s own Elixir or Garrett Juice.

3. APPLY TEXAS GREENSAND at about 40-80 lbs./1,000 sq. ft., lava sand at about 40-80 lbs./1,000 sq. ft., horticultural cornmeal at about 10-20 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. and sugar or dry molasses at about 5 lbs./1,000 sq. ft. Cornmeal is a natural disease fighter and sugar is a carbon source to feed the microbes in the soil.

4. APPLY a ONE INCH LAYER OF COMPOST followed by a 3-5” layer of shredded native tree trimmings. Native cedar is the best source for mulch.

5. SPRAY FOLIAGE AND SOIL MONTHLY OR MORE OFTEN IF POSSIBLE WITH DEULEY’S OWN NATURAL ELIXIR OR HOMEMADE COMPOST TEA WITH MOLLASSES AND SEA WEED ADDED. For large-scale farms and ranches, a one-time spraying is beneficial if the budget does not allow ongoing sprays. Adding garlic tea to the spray is also beneficial while the tree is in trouble.

6. STOP USING HIGH NITROGEN FERTILIZERS AND TOXIC CHEMICAL PESTICIDES. Pesticides kill the beneficial nematodes and insects. Fake fertilizers are destructive to the chemistry, the structure and the life in the soil.