Press
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
March
2010
RECIPE FOR A
HEALTHY LANDSCAPE -
would you like
salt on that?
As The
Tree Council launches its thirteenth annual Tree Care Campaign,
the year will
certainly be unlucky for many roadside trees. We have just seen the
coldest winter for 31 years and a tree killer has once again reared its head –
salt damage.
Newly planted
roadsides trees and hedges may already have been fatally damaged by the large
quantities of road salt used over this winter. Salt
spray can also affect foliage or buds of dormant twigs. Unnaturally high levels
of salt in the soil as a result of runoff from roads and pavements may,
in severe cases,
cause trees to lose limbs or even die.
“In many cases
the damage to the tree is often not noticed until the spring
or even summer, and people often don’t associate it with the winter salt.
Unfortunately, there is little that can be done once
the soil is salt laden. Attempting to irrigate the soil and wash out the salt
may help, but if there is a lot of salt this may not be
possible.” said
“Visually check
trees in your street if you live in towns, and out on walks in the country, and
let the landowner or council know if they aren’t coming into leaf or if you can
see other significant problems” suggested
ENDS
For further information,
please contact (press enquiries only)
Margaret
Lipscombe, Director of Urban Programmes; mobile: 07967 201
624
Jon Stokes,
Director of Rural Programmes; mobile: 07850 389
862
NOTE TO
EDITORS
1. Salt Damage to
Trees
Symptoms of
salt damage in deciduous trees include unopened flower buds, dead twigs, sparse,
stunted or yellow foliage and scorched leaves. In conifers, the branches
facing the road may have yellow or brown needles from salt spray, or blue/green
needles from salt in the soil.
There are
alternatives to road salt that reduce the effect of snow and ice, but don’t kill
trees. These are widely used in
How road salt damages trees:
trees take up the chlorine from
the soil in early spring; this concentrates in shoots and prevents bud openings.
chlorine can also be transported
to actively growing leaf margins causing leaf scorch, curling, and
death.
sodium blocks the uptake of
worthwhile nutrients like manganese and potassium, which are needed to create
chlorophyll.
salt can also cause a
‘localised drought’ situation as the soil around the roots is so salty that the
tree cannot use osmosis to get water into the roots.
2. Tips to ensure Healthy Young
Trees
Check that
young trees are alive. If there are no leaves, look for green under the bark of
twigs (scrape the surface with a fingernail or knife) and living buds. Replace
any plants that have died.
Newly planted
trees may be vulnerable to damage by grazing animals or clumsy humans and need
protection. Fences and tubes need to be checked in the first year to ensure that
they are effective. If they are not, change the method of protection.
Brambles,
nettles, weeds and grasses will compete with young trees for nutrients, moisture
and light, and will reduce the growth rates of the tree. Check that your mulch
layer is effective and cut back any competing vegetation. More straw, composted
bark or woodchips over the surface of the ground will suppress fresh weed
growth.
3. THE
TREE COUNCIL’S TREE CARE CAMPAIGN
21st
March – 21st September annually, highlighting the need for better
care for all trees, in order to ensure their survival and increase the numbers
reaching maturity. In particular, anyone who has planted trees in the past
5 years is reminded to revisit them and carry out a few simple tree care tasks
that can save young trees from dying and allow them to develop into the mature
trees that enhance our urban and rural landscape, provide shade and local
climate change, and support biodiversity.
4. About
The Tree
Council
Environmental
charity The Tree Council is
an umbrella
body for over 180 organisations working together for trees – planting, caring
for and enjoying them – and a forum for tackling issues relating to trees and
woods. It focuses on
making trees matter to people; more trees, of the right kind, in the right
places; better care for all trees of all ages and inspiring effective action for
trees. It works with its national volunteer Tree Warden Scheme and member organisations
to engage people in biodiversity and environmental issues and to promote
planting and conservation of trees and woods in town and country. A major part
of this is achieved through its annual Community Action Programme that also
includes Walk in the Woods month,
Seed Gathering Season and National Tree Week, and through supporting
groups organising local events.
The Tree
Council
The Tree Council
works to make trees matter to everyone. It is committed to
- More trees, of
the right kind, in the right places
- Better care for all trees, of all
ages
- Inspiring effective action for trees
tel:[+44] 20 7407
9992
fax:[+44] 20 7407 9908
ca@treecouncil.org.uk
www.treecouncil.org.uk
Registered charity
no. 279000
Limited company no. 1459056