Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Allison Watkins, 325-659-6528, aewatkins@ag.tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – Now is the time to plant trees, experts say.
To help homeowners ready for this fall tradition, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Tom Green County will conduct “Tree Planting and Pruning – Fall is the Time of Year to Think About Trees!” on Nov. 5.
The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Tom Green 4-H Center, 3168 N. U.S. Highway 67 just east of San Angelo. Individual registration is $10 due upon arrival. RSVP by calling the AgriLife Extension office in Tom Green County at 325-659-6522.
“Fall is the ideal time to plant trees for several reasons,” said Allison Watkins, AgriLife Extension horticulturist in Tom Green County, who with her co-worker, Josh Blanek, will teach the workshop. “Milder temperatures mean less heat stress and to further ensure a quicker establishment, less water is needed to get them going now than in the spring.”
Topics to be covered will include tree planting techniques, pruning and training young trees, maintenance of mature trees, irrigation and diagnosing problems.
“Installing new trees can be a costly investment and homeowners need to know the best methods to ensure success,” Watkins said. “Also, mature trees add a lot to a property’s value, and many in our area have been under a lot of stress in recent years, so we will spend some time teaching how to best care for them in a way that will keep them healthy and attractive, even in drought.”
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