Riddler
ArboristSite Lurker
My place 10 miles from the California coast has a number of mature Pacific Madrone mixed in with the Coast Redwoods, Douglas Fir, California Laurel and various Oak trees. The Pacific Madrone is a personal favorite of mine, so I would like to learn how to maintain and (hopefully) propagate them.
I am concerned about the condition of the madrones on my property, however. There are two reasons for this. First, on many specimens, the bark is almost completely peeled off beginning several feet up the trunks. There does not seem to be any canker growth or other surface abnormalities, simply the smooth, exposed trunk and branch surfaces without the bark. On most of the trees, there seem to be anywhere from a few to many branches with little or no leaf growth, with a number completely blackened and looking (for all purposes) dead. I suspect that all of the trees are relatively old as well, which leads to my next concern/observation.
Perhaps I am not looking in the right places, but I don't seem to be able to spot any younger trees among the 30 or more mature ones that are spread around the property. How is it that a number of these trees could have established themselves long ago and, yet, not seemed to replace (or grow) their numbers at all over time? For sure, each of the trees has plenty of competition from the others I mentioned above. Would clearing out some of the competition (which would mean destroying some mature redwoods, firs or oaks) greatly improve the condition and future reproducution of my madrone population? I believe the area was heavily logged 100+ years ago, so I am speculating that the growth in the population of these trees on my property occured then, but has since stalled with the re-emergence of the taller conifers.
In addition to improving the competitive situation for as many of the remaining specimens as I can, I am interested in trying to propogate some new trees that can be planted to areas of the property where there is less competition presently from the other species of trees. Any input on that issue would be much appreciated as well.
I am concerned about the condition of the madrones on my property, however. There are two reasons for this. First, on many specimens, the bark is almost completely peeled off beginning several feet up the trunks. There does not seem to be any canker growth or other surface abnormalities, simply the smooth, exposed trunk and branch surfaces without the bark. On most of the trees, there seem to be anywhere from a few to many branches with little or no leaf growth, with a number completely blackened and looking (for all purposes) dead. I suspect that all of the trees are relatively old as well, which leads to my next concern/observation.
Perhaps I am not looking in the right places, but I don't seem to be able to spot any younger trees among the 30 or more mature ones that are spread around the property. How is it that a number of these trees could have established themselves long ago and, yet, not seemed to replace (or grow) their numbers at all over time? For sure, each of the trees has plenty of competition from the others I mentioned above. Would clearing out some of the competition (which would mean destroying some mature redwoods, firs or oaks) greatly improve the condition and future reproducution of my madrone population? I believe the area was heavily logged 100+ years ago, so I am speculating that the growth in the population of these trees on my property occured then, but has since stalled with the re-emergence of the taller conifers.
In addition to improving the competitive situation for as many of the remaining specimens as I can, I am interested in trying to propogate some new trees that can be planted to areas of the property where there is less competition presently from the other species of trees. Any input on that issue would be much appreciated as well.