Invertebrate communities, mosses and fungi thrive in decaying trees and help return nutrients back to the soil
Invertebrate communities thrive in decaying trees and help return nutrients back to the soil as do mosses and fungi. Course
superintendents need to understand the importance of not disturbing these decaying trees. The creation of woodland edges, with well selected broken shrubs, helps to screen untidy woodland and also helps to reduce the sharp line between grass and woodland.
How to prevent tree forking Tree Survey
In some situations, tree forking is acceptable, however, in locations where trees, in particular parkland style trees, are planted as features, it is vitally important that the trees grow tall and relatively straight. This can be managed by shaping the tree when young in order to maintain a strong, straight leader. Correcting a forking issue with a tree involves removing the weaker side of the fork leaving the tree with a dominant leader. In some instances, more than one branch may need to be removed and may need to be carried out over a number of years.
When shaping a tree, the cut should be made outside the branch collar, so that a
I have often found it very useful if a tree survey is carried out on a golf course that is planning to plant trees or remove existing trees. The survey will analyse the existing trees and shrubs on the course and
hopefully give a greater
understanding as to exactly what is growing on the course. It will also give a description of the trees including tree size, likely age, and condition.
and tee on this course in Norfolk (except, perhaps, hayfever sufferers). A stunning array of plants and welcome shade from the hot summer sun
54 Every golfer would enjoy the walk between green
large stub does not remain after cutting. The correct time for carrying out shaping varies among tree species. Some damage to young
trees can occur due to animals. In most situations this will not be a huge problem, however, damage to specimen trees planted in strategic locations may warrant action. Damage from bark stripping or nibbling from animals such as rabbits, hares and deer is commonplace and tree guards may be required.
The superintendent can use this material to develop a management programme for the course, including selective removal of dangerous and, if required, non native trees. New plantings can then be decided from the current tree species on the course in order to best match the new with the old. There is no doubting that
trees add to the beauty and character of any course yet, in many situations, some older golf courses are involved in tree removal as opposed to tree planting. This is often due to poor planning at the planting
stage, which led to the placement of trees in the wrong locations. In my opinion, trees are vital to most courses but, in order to avoid serious management problems in the future, careful planning by an experienced agronomist is required before extensive planting is carried out on a new or existing course.
About the author: Mary Purcell is carrying out research for a doctorate degree in Environmental Science at University College Dublin. For more information contact Mary at
mary.purcell@ucd.ie
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