Tree Stress Continues…And What You Can Do

Our hot temps, drying winds and no rainfall are taking a tremendous toll on our trees, especially those that are very young and are much older.  We are offering grants for mulching trees in parks through-out Austin and we strongly encourage to you to apply – Info is here.

Bartlett Arborist performing root zone invigoration

Meanwhile, work continues at Wooldridge with our efforts to treat another 8 trees. Our arborists have treated six out of the eight trees as of now and the Parks Forestry Division is helping us with watering duties, which is great.

Mulch being applied after air spade work is completed

And some bad news with a huge tree limb falling off an old post oak at Wooldridge that had been doing very well despite the drought….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please Donate to Wooldridge Tree Treatments

Beginning Thursday, Bartlett Tree Experts will be working under contract to the Austin Parks Foundation to do tree treatments on eight older heritage trees in historic Wooldridge Square, located at 9th, 10th, Guadalupe and San Antonio Sts in downtown Austin.  In 2009 and 2010, we funded the treatment of 12 trees and the result has been very good, with 11 of the 12 trees making a dramatic recovery.

Bartlett will be performing a process called root zone invigoration.  This involves using an airspade to blow out the soil anywhere from 10-20 out from the trunk of the tree to a depth of six inches, then add fertilizer and compost and then top with mulch.  We then water the treated trees regularly (weekly).  For the trees in heavily compacted soils, like Wooldridge, it’s like getting increased lung capacity, the soil is nice and loose, has nutrients and water and usually responds by growing new roots that strength the health and capacity of the tree. We’ve attached a map of the trees that we’ll be treating vs. those that we have already mulched.

We need to raise another $8,000 to pay for all of the work that needs to be done and 100 percent of donations will go to paying for the work.  You can donate online to our Special Funds – Central – Wooldridge Square on www.austinparks.org or you can mail a check to the Austin Parks Foundation, 816 Congress Ave Suite 1680, Austin TX 78701.  Write “wooldridge” in the memo line of your check and we’ll make sure it gets to the right place.

Thank you!

Mulching at Wooldridge Square

These are photos from the July 2nd volunteer workday at Wooldridge Square.  We spread 50 cubic yards of mulch on the trees we (Austin Parks Foundation) had treated with a process called root zone invigoration back in November 2009 and all but one have responded really well.

Our thanks to Richard Craig – also of the Pease Park Conservancy (and an APF fiduciary partner) for helping organize this mulching effort. There are two trees (Pecans) that are having some difficulty and those were pruned by Parks Forestry team and mulched, and another eight that need treatments.  The total cost of these treatments will be just under $15,000 and we are looking for donations to help fund this work.  You can donate to the Wooldridge Square fund and 100 percent of all donations will be used to help us pay for this work.

Thanks to all who helped us.  There’s plenty more work to be done!

New Coat(s) of Paint for Wooldridge Gazebo

Thanks to donors to our Wooldridge Square Fund, including Page Sutherland Page and a number of local residents, the historic gazebo is looking good as new!

It’s My Park Day – Wooldridge and Republic Squares

We had a downtown squares double-header for It’s My Park Day – we spent the morning at Wooldridge (officially 100 years old!) spreading 46 cubic yards of mulch around all of the big trees, as well as bare spots and also began the process of scraping and sanding down the railings on the gazebo for a big paint job to begin later this spring.  Mayor Lee Leffingwell thanked our 80 volunteers for helping out and then grabbed a shovel and started piling mulch into a wheelbarrow. We had over an hour of music too from the Inside Out Steel Band which made our task a little easier!  Our thanks to Mark Holzbach and Michael McGill who sheparded our efforts there.

At Republic Square in the afternoon, we planted over 1600 plants – mostly native grasses, low mounding flowering plants and some yuccas.  Lots of digging and the ground was really hard in spots (owing to the Square’s previous life as a parking lot!)  But we got them all in – our tremendous thanks to Kim Mizner and Jacob Walker, along with Daniel Woodroffe, who coordinated the planting.

It’s My Park Day is here – tell us/show us what you did

Looks like we’re going to have a good morning on this annual It’s My Park Day.  We’re going to be at two events – Wooldridge Square in the morning – mulching and sanding the gazebo and at Republic Square in the afternoon – planting 1600 plants in the Auction Oaks area from 1:30-3:30 pm.  Please tell us what you did, send pictures, stories, etc. to us at apf@austinparks.org, leave a comment here or on our facebook page. Thanks for all of your help!

Awaiting Planting at Republic Square

Wooldridge Square – Giving Big Trees a Big Boost

Last week, Bartlett Tree Experts began work to prune one tree and perform their Root RX on ten additional trees at this square which just celebrated its 100 anniversary as a park in June.

One of the treated trees with the completed Root RX work

Root Rx involves using an airspade to break up the soil 6 inches down and ten feet out from the trunk – without hurting the roots, then add compost into the tilled soil and then a 4-6 inch layer of new mulch on top.  The purpose is to de-compact the critical root zone and give each of these heritage trees a chance to promote new root growth.  We did this work at Republic Square on each of the three Auction Oaks there and it has had a tremendous effect.    We also have a similiar project at Brush Square for the big Oak Tree between the O Henry and Susanna Dickinson Houses there.

Close up of a treated Oak

Four more trees need to be done and there’s also some additional soil treatments to be completed.

6/20: Wooldridge Square Park 100th Anniversary Celebration

Wooldridge Square Park
100th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, June 20, 2009
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
9th and Guadalupe Streets
No RSVP Required

Join the fun of a birthday party
for Wooldridge Square!

family friendly live music
dance performance with a marching band
free cupcakes
giant chess set
food vendor

Be part of a panoramic photo of participants similar to one taken at the dedication ceremony 100 years ago. The photo will be presented as a companion to the Austin History Center’s current exhibit of photos of the park.

50 Drummers at Wooldridge Kicks Off Fusebox

Graham Reynolds’ Golden Arm Trio kicked off the weeklong Fusebox Festival with a performance of 50 drummers (and a few other instruments) at Wooldridge Square on a beautiful Thursday night.  This is the first in a series of events celebrating the 100th anniversary of Wooldridge Square as a park.  Over 200 people enjoyed the 45 minute performance.