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By understanding and improving the mineral composition of our soils, we can restore the health of urban trees and enhance the environment.
Soil Testing to Assess Soil Quality
Soil Formation and Tree Canopy Health
Soil Testing to Assess Soil Quality
Particle Density Soil Testing
Contemporary soil testing will not detect total mineral deficiencies in the soil. Total mineral nutrition must be measured to ensure natural soil health and its juvenile resiliency.
The total mineral content can be measured by relative specific gravity test.
Mineral Nutrition for Plants
Soil Formation and Tree Canopy Health
Soil Testing to Assess Soil Quality
Plants that are supplied with mineral nutrition, in both agricultural and landscape
settings, will be healthier and better able to resist diseases and pests, reducing the need
to apply pesticides.
Soil Formation and Tree Canopy Health
Soil Formation and Tree Canopy Health
Soil Formation and Tree Canopy Health
It is imperative that we understand how soils form and develop because it effects the canopy of all tree species. Soil formation studies help us understand tree health and tree decline.
Rocks and Minerals are the Foundation of Healthy Soils.
In urban environments every rock is typically raked out of the topsoil and discarded as refuse with little or no value. But rocks of all composition, shapes, and sizes play an important role in soil ecology.
Soils without rocks and minerals are unhealthy and are considered weathered. Weathering removes and displaces elements necessary for plant growth.
My article, Rocks and Minerals are the Foundation of Healthy Soils addresses the benefits of restoring mineral nutrition in our soils and explains how we can greatly improve our urban tree canopies.
The Mineral-Microbe Theory of Tree Decline.
Within our soils, billions of microorganisms assist in providing nutrients to growing plants. By providing these microorganisms with the minerals they need to survive and thrive, we have a chance to restore the vitality of our urban soils and greatly improve urban tree canopies.
Along with explaining the role of these microorganisms in our soils, my article, The Mineral-Microbe Theory of Tree Decline, highlights the importance of determining the mineral composition of our soils by using Particle Density Soil Testing.
Tree hugging rock
For many years I have passed by this tree and rock when taking our dogs for their daily walks in the wooded area near our home.
The connection between this rock and tree has both intrigued and inspired me in my understanding of the importance of mineral nutrition for plants.
Reminding me a little of an algae eater in a fish tank, the tree looks as if it is trying to take up minerals from the rock.
You can see that the trunk of the tree has spread along the rock, increasing its surface contact with the rock.
More importantly, this unusual formation of wood tissue is fused along the vein of this metamorphic rock, known as Gneiss.
This natural tree formation always leaves me with many questions.
The topic of minerals and their importance to trees and plants is covered in my LinkedIn articles The Mineral-Microbe Theory of Tree Decline and Rocks and Minerals are the Foundation of Healthy Soils