Pasco Shopper

Nature Coast Chapter, Florida Native Plant Society, Holds Monthly Meeting

The subject of the upcoming May 11, 7:30 PM meeting:”The Real Florida – Wild Beauty”, presented by Katie MacMillen, Recreation Leader-Environmental Educator for Pasco County Environmental Lands Program.  Central Florida’s unique position leads to an amazingly wide variety of biological species of native plants, insects, birds, reptiles and amphibians, freshwater and marine life.  Katie is bringing us a slide show program that will be the best-of-the-best of photos taken over a number of years by local photographer Ann-Marie Prokopiak.  The plant photos focus largely on native plants, with a few non-natives as well.  The program is accompanied by gentle, Hawaiian slack-key guitar.  Come join us for this beautiful program, enjoy some refreshments, and perhaps take home a native plant!

Meetings of the Chapter are free and all interested parties are invited to attend, to bring questions about their yard, and participate in the native plant drawing. Location:  St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 7922 State Road 52, Hudson, FL 34667.  Telephone inquiries are taken by Mary at (727) 849-2335.  Chapter website:  http://www.pasconativeplants.org.

Pasco Extension Office Offers Saturday Seminar

May 8, 9-11:00 am Saturday Seminar – Getting Started with Bonsai

Come learn about this ancient art form using plants. Land O Lakes Community Center at 5401 Land O’Lakes Blvd. (US Highway 41), Land O’ Lakes.

All Seminars are FREE and open to the public. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act may contact the Extension office prior to the seminar. To pre-register or for additional information, please call 352-521-4288, 813-996-7341, ext. 4288 or 727-847-8177 ext. 4288 or visit our website events calendar at http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu Extension programs are open to all persons regardless of age, race, color, sex, disability, religion, or national origin.  Pasco County Cooperative Extension is a joint effort between the USDA, the University of Florida, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Begonia Society – May 22 Meeting

The Begonia Society of Tampa Bay will meet May 22, 2010 (4th Saturday of may) at 10:30 am.  The meeting is held at the Famous Tate warehouse, 6401 No. 54th Street, just west of 56th Street off of Diane.  Light refreshments will be served andl newcomers and visitors will receive a free Begonia Plant.  This month’s program will be presented by Betsy Lieberman of Tomboy Tools.  Betsy’s programs are always very imformative and interesting.  She will demonstrate the advantages of her line of tools and also have them available for sale.  For further information, contact Merle DeLane at (863) 738-8722.

Should you prune your trees in the spring? How deep must fertilizer be applied to reach the roots of your trees? Which species of trees should be topped to keep them from falling on your house? Most homeowners treasure the trees on their property but know little about how to care for them. Much of what you may have heard about tree care is actually incorrect, based on myths and misconceptions. Here are the Top 10 myths of tree care:

MYTH #1: When a tree is planted, it should be securely staked to ensure the development of a stable root system and a strong trunk. Although it is sometimes necessary to stake trees to keep them upright and allow establishment, there are some adverse effects of staking. Compared to staked trees, unstaked trees tend to develop a more extensive root system and better trunk taper. Allowing a small amount of movement can help root and trunk development. Of course, the worst effect of staking is the possibility of trunk damage from the staking wires or ties. Staking materials usually should be removed after one year to avoid “girdling” the tree.

MYTH #2: Newly planted trees should have their trunks wrapped with tree wrap to prevent sunscald and insect entry. Studies using most common tree wraps have shown that they do not prevent extreme fluctuations in temperature on the bark. In some cases, the temperature extremes are worse. Also, tree wraps have proven quite ineffective in preventing insect entry. In fact, some insects like to burrow under it.

MYTH #3: Trees should be pruned back heavily when they are planted to compensate for the loss of roots. Tree establishment is best with unpruned trees. Although pruning the top can reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the leaves, the tree needs a full crown to produce the much-needed food and the plant hormones that induce root growth. The tree will develop a stronger, more extensive root system if it has a fuller crown. Limit pruning at the time of planting to structural training and the removal of damaged branches.

MYTH #4: When removing a branch from a tree, the final cut should be flush with the stem to optimize healing. First of all, trees don’t “heal” in the sense that wounds on people heal. Our bodies regenerate tissues in much the same form of the tissues that were removed (to a limited extent). Trees compartmentalize wounds, generating woundwood over the wounded area. Flush cutting removes the “branch collar,” creating a larger wound than if the branch were removed outside the collar. Also, it is likely that some of the parent branch tissue will be removed. The spread of decay inside the tree is greater with flush cuts.
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