Flowerbeds: Root cause of tree stress

  • Published
  • By Doris Johnson
  • Air Armament Center Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Trees dying for attention here will soon receive some much-needed care from 796th Civil Engineer Squadron people.

“Last summer, we noticed that several trees appeared to be dying,” said Lt. Col. Craig Campbell, 796th CES commander.

After an analysis performed by the 796th CES workers and a horticulturalist from the University of Florida, the commander had his answer. Plant beds placed around the trees for decorative value were suffocating the tree roots. The trees were forced to fight surrounding plants and bushes for water and nutrients.

“The bedding places excessive amounts of dirt and rock around the base of the trees, and causes disease and tree suffocation, which eventually kills the tree,” Colonel Campbell said.

Problem signs, which include surfacing roots, hollow limbs and flourishing mistletoe, were found in about 15 trees.

Soon the squadron’s grounds section workers will be working with facility managers to safely remove plant beds or planters and nurture the trees back to health, said Sam Morgan, a grounds supervisor.

“The landscaping around the trees was planted about four years ago,” said Peter McMullin, another grounds supervisor. “While they were made with good intentions, the trees are now showing obvious signs of stress and a few of the trees are too damaged to save.”

In the more extreme cases, where trees must be removed, grounds people will work to reclaim the terrain to normal elevation and then follow with sod replacement, Mr. McMullen said.

“Sod is the best choice to place around a tree,” Mr. Morgan said. “It allows for natural growth, cuts down maintenance and will look better years down the road.”

Work has already begun on some trees here. The planters have been removed, and the ground is level and prepared for sod. However, other trees still don inches of rock and roots from surrounding bushes.

“You can see the tree roots coming above ground level looking for oxygen,” Mr. McMullen said. “The bushes’ growth is also stunted by the landscaping timbers surrounding the planter.”

Grounds supervisors said they are pleased with the cleanup.

“The new design looks better, keeps the trees healthy and reduces labor,” Mr. Morgan said.