It’s Autumn, Look to the Ground!

There is a lot to see at ground level this time of year!

While at the nursery or walking around your yard observe what’s happening at ground level!

Of course there’s mulch…

But also Acorns (English Columnar and Chinquapin OaksBelow),

samaras (Shantung Maple),

and various seed pods (Mimosa and Popcorn Trees Below) are falling to the ground…

Leaves in a rainbow of colors are accumulating..

Soapberry

Chinese Pistache

Cottonwood

Desert Willow

New Mexico Alder

Gambel Oak

Popcorn Tree

Sumac

Mulberry

Flowering Pear

These all return life and / or nutrients to the soil. Let them accumulate, decompose, build your soil, and feed your landscape….

If you need to move them, place them in your garden space or under your landscaping trees and shrubs or compost them.

Don’t Burn, Bag, or Haul them away as they return vitality to your soil…….

Photos and Narrative by:

Stephen Sain
Staff Plant Physiologist

Comments

Chaparral Earth said…

This year I did a jump on Acorn Collecting here in Sweden from the Quercus Robur. Generally every year for the past 7 years the grounds are littered with 10s of 1000s of them. But this year I collect 6 viable acorns ONLY which is not surprising since even during our cold/wet non-summer other trees and shrubs produced very little to none fruits, nuts or berries.

I always get there late because many are already attempting to sprout a taproot into the soil before winter. They germinate that quick here. If you can collect early enough, then you can dry them a bit and put them in neutral.

I've asked Swedes if there are any records of Vikings or earlier savage animal skin clad clans utilizing them for food as the Native Americans and there is none. This next year I am bringing them to mum's house in San Diego in April to germinate. I dried them and now fridge and then freezing them in Freezer to neutralize them. What I know about germination through experience is that interesting things happen in the dark under cold wet conditions. Not all growth is asleep.

You didn't answer my original question about doing an article on my "Earth's Internet" blog about your science site. It would fit in perfect with my site's theme of engineered underground networks and practical application through replication in the landscape and habitat restoration.

Cheers, Kevin

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October 28, 2012 at 2:21 AM

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