North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jay Cutts <orders@cuttsreviews.com>]

Most of my trees are young and don't yet have deep, wide root systems. 
This is why I'm concerned that what is happening at the surface is 
affecting them. I have the sense that the grasses are "choking out" the 
tree. Is that really what happens?  The grasses are certainly soaking up 
any nutrients in the top 6 inches or so of the soil, so if I've put any 
fertilizer or manure there, I'm concerned that it will never get to the 
tree roots. Do I have the right picture?

I'm afraid that with this Western Wheat Grass, the more I mow it, the 
denser the root system will become.

What would happen if I planted a deep rooted plant like alfalfa around 
the tree? I think alfalfa might outcompete the grass.  Would it allow 
the nutrients accumulating at the surface to reach the tree roots?

I guess that's the bottom line question: How can I let the nutrients 
that I'm applying on the surface, or that are building up through the 
mulch on the surface, to feed the tree and not just feed a lush crop of 
grass while starving the tree?

I appreciate the help that you all are providing.

Regards,

Jay

Jay Cutts
Director, Cutts Graduate Reviews
Lead Author, Barron's MCAT Prep Book
Lead Author, Barron's LSAT Prep Book (2013)
(505) 281-0684
10 am to 10 pm Mountain Time, 7 days

On 5/24/2015 2:45 PM, Lee Reich wrote:
> I guess I would have to see some data comparing various growth or yield 
> parameters for the same trees growing under the same conditions with, say, 
> wood chip mulch vs. hay mulch. My guess is that rigorous comparisons for this 
> do not exist.
>
> Not that I have anything against woody mulches. Leaves and wood chips blanket 
> the ground beneath most of my trees (although some years, the mulch has been 
> hay). I use wood chips and leaves because they are deposited for free at my 
> site by arborists and landscapers.
>
> Lee Reich, PhD
> Come visit my farmden at  http://www.leereich.com/blog 
> <http://www.leereich.com/blog>
> http://leereich.com/ <http://leereich.com/>
>
> Books by Lee Reich:
> A Northeast Gardener's Year
> The Pruning Book
> Weedless Gardening
> Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
> Landscaping with Fruit
> Grow Fruit Naturally
>
> > On May 24, 2015, at 1:47 PM, Bob Randall <YearRoundGardening@comcast.net> 
> > wrote:
> >
> > What Lee says is true also.  Trees can live in all sorts of crazy places and 
> > even “thrive.” I have seen them on rock cliffs.
> > I used to live on the edge of the Sahara.  There was a famous tree “The Tree 
> > of Teneré”.  Nothing at all living around it for miles/kilometers.  See for 
> > yourself. Do an image search or
> >
> > http://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/categories/C53/P20/ 
> > <http://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/categories/C53/P20/>
> >
> > But they will do best with rotted lignin materials.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
> > "Share What You Grow and What You Know!"
> >
> > Bob Randall. Ph.d.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On May 24, 2015, at 12:03 PM, Lee Reich <leeareich@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > While what Bob says is true, trees seem to also thrive when growing in grass, 
> > > as long as it’s not too competitive (i.e. mowed low and frequently), or being 
> > > mulched with low lignin materials.
> > >
> > > I once had to chuckle at a presentation by Dr. Ingaham, when she was 
> > > espousing the need of trees for a fungally dominated environment. The 
> > > audience was nodding their heads in assent as they sat beneath a lusty, 
> > > mature red oak thriving in mown lawn.
> > >
> > > Lee Reich, PhD
> > > Come visit my farmden at  http://www.leereich.com/blog <http://www.leereich.com/blog> 
> > > <http://www.leereich.com/blog <http://www.leereich.com/blog>>
> > > http://leereich.com/ <http://leereich.com/> <http://leereich.com/ 
> > > <http://leereich.com/>>
> > >
> > > Books by Lee Reich:
> > > A Northeast Gardener's Year
> > > The Pruning Book
> > > Weedless Gardening
> > > Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
> > > Landscaping with Fruit
> > > Grow Fruit Naturally
> > >
> > > > On May 24, 2015, at 12:23 PM, Bob Randall <YearRoundGardening@comcast.net 
> > > > <mailto:YearRoundGardening@comcast.net>> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > With mulch there is always a dilemma between what is desirable and feasible.  In nature, trees 
> > > > life in places with fungal dominant soils and prefer a forest floor type mulch with lots of 
> > > > lignin in layers from uncomposted on top to humus on the bottom.  Grasses with few exceptions 
> > > > prefer a bacteria dominated soil.  So if you have your choice mulch with shredded tree branches 
> > > > composted or leaves or straw, but not green succulent herbaceous material including grass.  See 
> > > > The Soil Biology Primer at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/biology/ 
> > > > <http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/biology/><http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/biology/
> > > >  <http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/biology/>>
> > > >
> > > > All this is made more complicated by the lack of moisture in many places, so 
> > > > that not only is there not much material to mulch with, but also it takes 
> > > > forever to rot unless it goes through the gut of animals.
> > > >
> > > > What is possible in any given place therefore is based on knowing what the 
> > > > aim is and doing your best with in cost and labor constraints to get a 
> > > > solution.
> > > >
> > > > I live in warm Houston where in El Nino years it never stops raining it 
> > > > seems, everything except concrete rots, and branches of trees grow at an 
> > > > alarming clip, so mulching is simply a matter of finding the time to do it.  
> > > > Santa Fe is dry and cold a lot, so not much grows or rots. Your best bet is 
> > > > to find plant material that is an industrial byproduct I would guess.
> > > >
> > > > Bob Randall
> > > >
> > > > "Share What You Grow and What You Know!"
> > > >
> > > > Bob Randall, Ph.D.
> > > >
> > > > http://yearroundgardening.me
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > On May 24, 2015, at 10:52 AM, Lee Reich <leeareich@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > How about letting the grass grow wherever it wants but keeping it mown short. 
> > > > > The organic matter from the clippings will improve the soil and the constant 
> > > > > mowing can keep the grass from becoming too competitive.
> > > > >
> > > > > Lee Reich, PhD
> > > > > Come visit my farmden at  http://www.leereich.com/blog 
> > > > > <http://www.leereich.com/blog>
> > > > > http://leereich.com/ <http://leereich.com/>
> > > > >
> > > > > Books by Lee Reich:
> > > > > A Northeast Gardener's Year
> > > > > The Pruning Book
> > > > > Weedless Gardening
> > > > > Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
> > > > > Landscaping with Fruit
> > > > > Grow Fruit Naturally
> > > > >
> > > > > > On May 19, 2015, at 8:44 PM, Jay Cutts <orders@cuttsreviews.com> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Folks,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Here's a dilemma I've been wrestling with for years. I'm at 7000 feet in NM. 
> > > > > > I have a number of rather small trees planted out in a field. There is a very 
> > > > > > invasive grass that grows in the field - I think it's Western Wheat grass - 
> > > > > > that sends out underground runners for 4 or 5 feet.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I don't know how to protect the soil immediately under the tree and then out 
> > > > > > under the drip line and a little further. In some places I've put down two 
> > > > > > layers of weed barrier, covering maybe a circle with a diameter of 4-5 feet. 
> > > > > > It does keep the grass from coming through but the grass roots are still 
> > > > > > pervasive in the covered area. After a while, the grasses do poke through the 
> > > > > > weed barrier.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'd prefer to have a nice circle of organic mulch that would break down in 
> > > > > > that area but then the grass goes completely wild, growing right through the 
> > > > > > mulch.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm assuming that letting the grass grow under the tree is bad. I guess it 
> > > > > > will use up nutrients and just feels like it's choking the tree out.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I'm wondering if there is something I can plant under the trees that would 
> > > > > > outcompete the weedy grass. The weed grass doesn't do as well if it gets 
> > > > > > shaded out (the trees are too small to create shade) though it will still 
> > > > > > spread.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If I planted something like alfalfa, could I plant it right up to the base of 
> > > > > > a young tree? If I leave the area immediately under the tree bare or mulched, 
> > > > > > the grass will come in.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We only get 18 inches of rain a year, so anything that is planted for a cover 
> > > > > > crop is going to have survive on that or it will be stealing water from the 
> > > > > > tree.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Another issue is that the soft, mulched and watered area around the base of 
> > > > > > the trees is perfect for attracting gophers. I've had gophers down a 5 year 
> > > > > > old tree by gnawing off the base in the winter. Who knows how much other 
> > > > > > damage they're doing underground to the tree roots. So the nicer I make the 
> > > > > > soil around the trees, the more gopher damage I have. Help!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Regards,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jay
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jay Cutts
> > > > > > Director, Cutts Graduate Reviews
> > > > > > Lead Author, Barron's MCAT Prep Book
> > > > > > Lead Author, Barron's MCAT Flash Cards
> > > > > > Lead Author, Barron's LSAT Prep Book
> > > > > > (505)-281-0684
> > > > > > 10 am to 10 pm Mt Time, 7 days
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
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