Willow Glen Resident

Gardening

Profuse Flowers: Fuchsia flowers have a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and the petal color combinations are nearly limitless. The plants appreciate humid air, regular irrigation and morning sun/partial shade.

Deciduous trees that catch breeze could still fall down

By Tony Tomeo

Among the many large redwood trees that make the perfect backdrop for a new garden that I will soon be planting, there was a single obtrusive madrone that leaned awkwardly in front of the redwoods and over the center of the garden. I could not bear to cut down a madrone, so was resigned to work around it. I was therefore quite surprised recently to find it missing! Upon closer inspection, I found that it had fallen into the forest, eliminating itself and a few other underbrush trees from view.

I should have seen this coming. I am, after all, an arborist. The tree seemed to be healthy, so I did not bother to climb down through a thicket of brambles to inspect the base. I can now see that the roots are very decayed. Destabilization likely began much earlier as rain softened the soil, and progressed with every breeze. At least it fell now instead of later, when the area is a new garden.

Many trees fell earlier in winter as they were blown down by wind, particularly since the soil was already softened by the first rain. Fewer have fallen since then because the many storms that went through lacked strong wind. It seems only logical that destabilization and collapse would be less of a problem now that soil is draining and there is even less wind.

However, a few trees continue to become destabilized. Now that warm weather is encouraging fresh new growth, trees are getting heavier and more vulnerable to wind. Yet, soil is still moist enough to be soft.

Deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves while dormant in winter) that did not get blown around much in winter will now catch even the slightest breeze in their newly emerging leaves. Those that get their leaves sooner are, of course, more vulnerable than those that get their leaves later, when soil is a bit firmer. For example, the native bigleaf maples started getting their new foliage while the weather was still rainy. Norway maples stay dormant much later because they are native to much colder regions. By the time they get their foliage, the rain has stopped, and soil is better drained.

Trees that "leaf out" (produce new foliage) early are also more likely to become destabilized by increasing weight. Chinese elm is a notorious tree for weight problems because it is so vigorous and is very often unbalanced. (Balance is more important among trees such as Chinese elms, which have shallow root systems, than among trees with well dispersed or deep root systems.) Evergreen trees likewise can get heavier than their roots can support, but their weight gain is not as obvious among their already present foliage.

Although not related to moist soil, increasing weight and wind resistance can cause structural problems, too, especially among pines, cedars, oaks, silk trees, flowering pears and fruitless mulberries. Trees that are adapted to dry climates but are planted in irrigated landscapes or lawns are particularly vulnerable. Maples, birches, sycamores (planes) and pistache are not as likely to develop structural problems, but their lower branches may get weighed down lower than they were last year.

More information about trees can be found at the website of the International Society of Arboriculture, www.isaarbor.com, and its related links.

Flower of the Week: Fuchsia

Fuchsia season is only beginning, but many abundantly blooming plants were already brought by the Fuchsia Society to Spring in Guadalupe Gardens in April. Bloom continues until cool weather next autumn. There is so much variation in flower size, shape and color that there are at least 500 cultivars (cloned varieties) available.

Sepals (flower buds' outer coverings that fold back during bloom) are usually a different color from, but as brightly colored as, the corollas (flower petals, not Toyotas). Colors of either may be white, purple, bluish purple, red, pink or peach. Flowers may be single or double. Many pendulous fuchsias are good in hanging pots. Some of the larger shrubby types can get as tall as 10 feet.

Fuchsias like humidity, part shade, moderate temperatures and plenty of water. Too much sunlight can burn foliage. Soil should be rich and drain well. Scrawny plants can be pruned back in summer for fuller growth.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.