In episode forty-four of the Sunshine Gardening Podcast titled "How to Protect Urban Trees from Stress," host Kristin Hildabrand welcomes Jared Weaver, the parks forester and arborist for the city of Bowling Green, KY. They discuss the various challenges that urban residential trees face and provide listeners with practical tips to protect urban trees and maintain tree health.







Kristin introduces the episode by stating its focus on trees and the stressors impacting them in urban landscapes, including surface roots, thinning grass, drought, and insect damage. She emphasizes the importance of matching the right tree to the correct location, referencing Jared's insight that the wrong plant in the wrong place causes significant stress to trees.



Jared elaborates on his role in managing trees across various parks and landscapes in Bowling Green, detailing responsibilities that include planning the urban forest, planting, pruning, controlling pests, and tree removal. A central point of their discussion revolves around the most significant stressor for urban trees: improper placement of plants that do not match site conditions like sunlight and drainage.



Throughout the conversation, they discuss several specific tree species, with Jared highlighting the challenges of planting dogwood trees in full sun, as they are naturally understory trees. They also discuss root systems, particularly the challenges trees face in compacted urban soil, and how surface roots can cause issues for homeowners.



The pair covers insect management without defaulting to chemical treatments, explaining that many insects are part of a healthy ecosystem. Jared shares strategies for mitigating pest problems, including raking up leaf litter to reduce insect eggs.



Jared also addresses the issues caused by drought, concentrating on the need for deep watering to promote healthy root growth. He explains that newly planted trees should be watered deeply and infrequently, contrasting that method with the irrigation needed for turf grass.



The benefits of mulch are discussed, highlighting how it can regulate moisture and temperature for newly planted trees. They stress the importance of winter watering, particularly for evergreen trees, to ensure they remain hydrated during dry conditions.



Fertilization practices are addressed, with an emphasis on the need for soil testing to avoid unnecessary application of fertilizers. Jared mentions the utility of certified arborists for specific tree care needs, directing listeners to the resource https://www.treesaregood.org/ for locating professionals.







Lastly, the episode concludes with a discussion on protecting trees from string trimmer damage, focusing on the importance of maintaining mulch around the base of the tree and exploring methods to aid in tree recovery from injuries. Kristin wraps up the episode by thanking Jared and encouraging listeners to check their website for additional resources, review the podcast, and continue learning about tree care. The episode emphasizes environmental stewardship and proactive approaches to urban tree management.





Episode 44 Resources:



Tree Week Activities: https://www.bgky.org/tree/treeweek



Stress and Decline in Woody Plants,