May 14, 2011 Meeting

Dennis McHugh has been studying with Kenji and Ryan Neil and apparently learning quite a bit about pines. :-)

We prevailed on Dennis to share a few tidbits with the group during our May 14 meeting. Here is what we learned.

Pines

Black -       two seasons of growth

White -       one season of growth
Includes:      Ponderosa, Limber, lodge pole

Black pines grow stronger roots, which is why you often see other pines grafted on black pine roots.

Fertilizing

White pine

Do not fertilize white pine in spring. The time to fertilize white pine will occur around the middle to end
of June/ early July and you will have time to get one fertilizer application in before the really intense
heat of August is of concern. If you fertilize before then the candles and needles on white pines will
excessively elongate. Even though the needles may be pushing out the candles can still gain a lot of
length and the internodes will become excessively long between needle clusters. You will know when
needle elongation and bud elongation have stopped because the sheaths will shed completely once the
needle clusters have fully expanded and hardened off. At this point the needle junction needs no more
protection and the sheath becomes useless. In fall use moderate fertilization.

Black pine

Start fertilizing in February and continue into June, stop when you cut candles. Don't fertilize again until
the new candles harden off (needles are in sheath and hold and color changes to deep green). Then
fertilize once a month depending on how you fertilize. Moderate fertilization in fall and a little in winter.

Dennis may provide another mini-tutorial at our June meeting. Don't miss it!