BrykerWoods Neighborhood

Epic Texas Drought & Bryker Woods Trees

With the Lone Star State mired in a record-breaking drought, the parched trees that dot the landscape can no longer depend solely on Mother Nature to quench their thirst. Just like people, trees need water to survive. Without it, they can’t carry nutrients up into their leaves or push the sugar they create down into their roots.

During damper days, a mature tree — a mighty oak, flowering magnolia or even a stately pecan — likely could make-do with just the rain provided by Mother Nature. But as she gets stingier and stingier with her watering can, that’s just not the case anymore.

“We’re seeing trees dying now, and the longer this goes on, the worse it’s going to get,” said Paul Johnson, a Texas Forest Service regional urban forester in San Antonio. “If you’ve got a tree in your yard … it’s stressed.”

Watering is the single most important thing you can do for your tree during a drought. Without water, trees stop growing and drop their leaves in an act of self-preservation. As the drought worsens, so does the tree, making it more susceptible to a potentially-deadly insect infestation or disease.

“Trees are amazingly resilient so things look a little better now than I expected, but they’re still under serious stress,” Johnson said. “It’s worth the investment in your water bill to avoid the very real cost of having a tree removed, never mind losing the shade and cooling effect and all the other things trees do for us.”

The key is making sure you water the right amount, the right way, Johnson said, explaining that watering too much or too little can be just as detrimental.

Texas Forest Service tree experts have compiled a list of watering tips that can help you nurse your trees through the drought:

• Before you drag out the hose, check for and follow local water restrictions, which often are enacted during a prolonged drought. In San Antonio, for example, residents can water just one day a week during early morning and late evening hours.
• Well-established, valuable, mature trees should be watered every week or two during times of major drought.
• When you water, do so deeply — 6 to 8 inches into the soil under the foliage of the tree. Avoid shallow, frequent watering. You can measure the depth with a long screwdriver; taking note of how easy it slides into the soil.
• The easiest way to give your tree a good, deep soak is with a soaker hose or sprinkler system. A mature tree needs about an inch of water — or 60 gallons per 10-foot by 10-foot area — every week or two.
• Time your sprinkler or soaker hose so you’ll know how long to run them. With a sprinkler, place an empty tuna or cat food can near the tree and time how long it takes to fill it up. With a soaker hose, curl it up inside a kiddie pool, let it run for a set period of time and then measure how much water is released.
• Young, newly-planted trees should be watered three times a week. During each watering, they need 5 gallons of water for every inch of stem — or trunk — diameter, which is measured 6 inches above the ground. So if your tree measures 6 inches in diameter, that’s 30 gallons of water, three times each week.
• Water should be concentrated at the base of a new tree, which is why water bags are ideal. If you don’t have access to them, drill a few holes in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, place it next to the tree, fill it up and let the water slowly drain out.
  Generally, a tree is considered established about two to three years after planting, but the ongoing, extreme drought is causing some older trees to struggle. Keep a close eye on any trees planted within the last seven years.
• Another option is to reduce your watering needs by removing plants that surround your tree. Grass and trees often fight for available water. Replacing that grass — especially around new trees — with a 6-foot diameter, 2-inch deep circle of mulch can help keep moisture on the ground and available to the tree

Oak Trees at Bryker Woods Elementary

Although not receiving the City of Austin’s Tree of the year award, the grand Live Oak tree located directly behind Bryker Woods Elementary School is certainly worthy of recognition. Next time you visit the Elementary School, take a look at this magnificent tree, perhaps one of the oldest residents of our neighborhood.

Listed in 1976 as a City of Austin “Heritage Tree” with a canopy height of approximately 28’ and trunk circumference of 13’5”. The Live Oak is in excellent condition and has been well cared for by both Bryker Woods Elementary School and AISD; at one point a giant steel post was installed to support the tree’s massive leaning trunk. This Live Oak is old enough to have provided shade to native Americans and early settlers residing along the banks of Shoal Creek which runs behind the school. Currently the tree’s grand canopy provides shade for the children and staff at Bryker Woods Elementary. Next to the tree is an array of solar panels, a rain water cistern and the school’s organic garden. Having seen much change, this mighty oak tree symbolizes the resilience, gracefulness, tolerance and generosity for which Austin in known.

Drought Alert (La Nina!)

Austin Mabry has recorded 0.76 inches of rain between October 1^st and December 16^th.  This is so far the 2^nd driest October to December period on record. And according to forecasters at the National Weather Service, drought conditions will persist and likely grow worse over the next 3 months. Don't forget to water your trees - especially trees recently planted. 
 

 

Progress at Pease Park

The Trees for Pease organization is two years old this summer.  In the summer of 2008, the park was badly run down and neglected. Severe cuts in the City of Austin’s Parks’ budget had taken a toll on Austin’s oldest public green space. A drought of record and an intense wind and hailstorm in May, 2008 had devastated the dwindling tree canopy at the park.  Scouring floods and soil compaction from intense foot traffic had taken their toll.  A beautiful oasis enjoyed since 1875 was about to disappear in one short generation.
 
Determined not to let this happen, friends and neighbors of the park stepped up.  Working under the Austin Parks Foundation’s 501(c)(3) status, we got busy raising money and organizing volunteer work days. The City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation and Forestry Departments joined forces, as did hundreds of volunteers.  
 
What has been accomplished over these two years:

• A total of 339 new trees of 28 different species have been planted in the park.
• An automated irrigation system has been installed to service the new trees and to water the turf grasses in the big field and the south end of the park.
• Irrigation lines have been installed in the two planter beds by the picnic tables at Kingsbury.
• We retained Bartlett’s Trees arborists to fertilize and treat the aged and diseased cedar elms in the picnic table area.
• Austin Trees Experts arborists were hired to prune 18 large heritage Live Oaks along the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail near Parkway.
• We partnered with Austin Parks and Recreation Dept. to reroute the truck traffic in the park away from the playscape and restroom for safety purposes.
• A new cedar shake shingle roof was installed on the Old Tudor Cottage on the hillside to preserve the 1927 structure and protect it from the elements.
• We worked with the Austin Forestry Department to remove the asphalt surrounding the root zone of the large Live Oak tree in the Disc Golf parking lot on Parkway to give it a better chance of survival.
• Tons of storm debris was removed from the park after two consecutive destructive windstorms (May 15, 2008 and August 12, 2009).
• We spread tons of Dillo dirt and mulch to fertilize and re-invigorate the depleted soil in the big field and the hillsides.
• We laid 1,800 square feet of new Bermuda sod along the old truck route in the south end of park and spread additional grass seed in the field.
• We installed a new French drain along the Hike and Bike Trail on the west side of the park and next to the basketball court.
• We removed vast amount of invasive, non-native plant material from the woodlands, thereby giving native plant species a better chance to thrive.
• We worked with Austin Energy to have 60-foot power poles installed along Kingsbury Street to enable us to plant new tall shade trees along the street,beautifying the entrance to Pease Park.
• Trees for Pease raised $107,000 in private funds from neighbors and friends of the park to fund all of the improvements outlined above.

But, we still have a lot left to do and few remaining funds to do it.  With the eventual closure of the Disc Golf Course at Pease, we will need to bring in new users and new uses to assure the park’s vibrancy.  This all needs to be done in a sustainable way over the long term. We don’t want to initiate a renewal of the park for today that will eventually give way to another cycle of decline tomorrow.
 
First on our wish list is the completion of the restoration of the old Tudor cottage restroom and repair the stone retaining wall in front of it.  We would like to see this historic building repurposed as a food concession or rentable event venue that would provide a much needed income stream for the park.  We also want to landscape the new Splash Pad and provide permanent seating and shade for parents.  More trees will be planted in the autumn of 2010 in an area adjacent to the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail just north of the big field that was completely denuded by the recent series of windstorms.  Longer range, we would like to become a full purpose Conservancy for Pease Park.

Please contribute generously to Pease Park today.  Just make your check payable to “Trees for Pease” c/o the Austin Parks Foundation, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 1680, Austin, Texas 78701.  Or just go on line to the Austin Parks Foundation website (http://www.austinparks.org) and use PayPal to donate to Pease.

Thanks! (update by Richard Craig) 

City seeks nominations for Austin’s Tree of the Year

The City of Austin is seeking nominations for the 2010 Austin Tree of the Year awards that are given annually to one large and one small tree within the city limits. The Austin Tree of the Year awards program was created to inspire proper tree care and promote the outstanding results of nurtured and healthy trees.

Nominate a neighborhood tree! the Bryker Woods neighborhood has several of designated City of Austin Heritage Trees. See http://www.txinfo.com/brykerwoods/Parks/Trees.html

Look for trees that are native, healthy and beautiful. Deadline for nominations is June 30. A nomination form may be found at http://www.cityofaustin.org/treeoftheyear, or may be picked up at Zilker Garden Center and local plant nurseries. Winners will be chosen by a committee of representatives from Parks and Recreation, Austin Energy, Watershed Protection and Development Review, the University of Texas , the Urban Forestry Board and the community. The large and small tree category winners will be honored at an event in October or early November.

National Wildlife Federation Neighborhood Habitat Challenge

The City of Austin and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are once again challenging Austin neighborhoods to certify the most number of properties within their boundaries as wildlife habitats. This is the third year for the Neighborhood Habitat Challenge and it has been so successful that the city is making the challenge an annual contest to give even more Austin communities the opportunity to get involved in habitat creation and conservation. Neighborhoods including Jester Estates, Windsor Park, Allandale, Crestview, Highland Park West Balcones Area, Copperfield and others have risen to the NEIGHBORHOOD HABITAT CHALLENGE. This year make your neighborhood a Winner for Wildlife!

It's easy to create homes for colorful butterflies and beautiful songbirds in our city!

Properties that provide food, water, cover, places to raise young for wildlife and employ sustainable gardening practices are eligible for NWF wildlife habitat certification. Schools and places of business and worship are also included in the Habitat Challenge.

Creating wildlife habitat is as simple as...

- Planting native plants that provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and berries year round.

- Including a reliable and accessible water source to attract a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

- Providing places for cover and rearing young such as planting evergreen shrubs, leaving rock piles or putting up a birdhouse.

Learn more at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/wildlifehabitat.htm

Support Protection for Austin's Heritage Trees!

See - http://www.austinheritagetreefoundation.com/ for important details!

BE THE LORAX

Friends and Neighbors,

The "business as usual" crowd that has been chopping our trees as fast as they please is now spamming the Austin City Council with a form letter opposing the proposed new Heritage Tree Ordinance.

You can write your own letter of SUPPORT FOR NEW PROTECTIONS FOR HERITAGE TREES, or you can cut and paste all or part of the letter below. And you can email all the council members using this link: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm

Support the recommendations of the Austin Urban Forestry Board, the Austin Environmental Board and the Austin Planning Commission for meaningful, effective new protections for Austin's mature, irreplaceable heritage trees.

The rapid changes in Austin's climate already taking place mean that the mature trees we have today can never be replaced, only preserved by an effective ordinance.

Our city can no longer afford to let these trees be felled with no notice and no real citizen participation in the city's approval of their demolition.

As the Lorax said, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

TreeWheelin' Bicycle Tour – Saturday October 24

A bicycle tour of over 50 of our most venerable heritage trees.
 
When – Saturday October 24 (9am start)
Location – Pease Park  
Registration - https://new.sportsbaseonline.com/events/index.xhtml?categoryId=8877
 
In 1976, over 200 of our oldest, largest, and most notable trees were inducted in to the City of Austin Bicentennial Registry. Join us on October 24, 2009 from 9 to noon as we pedal, bus, and walk to admire over fifty of our magnificent heritage trees. The Tree-Wheelin' Bicycle Tour aims to honor these trees--they are among our oldest citizens and most efficient city workers, and to recognize the valuable role of the urban forest in providing clean air and water, absorbing storm run-off, saving millions of dollars annually in energy costs, and beautifying our city and neighborhoods!

The tour begins at Pease Park with advanced, intermediate, and beginner guided rides. Riders can ride with a group or explore favorite trees or parts of the route at their own pace and leisure. Each tree will have a host with water and snacks, and riders can pick up a raffle ticket at each tree visited to qualify for a prize at the end of the tour! We'll finish the day up with TreeFolks' 20th Birthday Party ! (7pm at Fiesta Gardens)

The Bryker Woods neighborhood has several designated City of Austin Heritage Trees:

• Elm Tree at 3302 Funston (besides house)
• Live Oak Tree at 1112 West 31st (behind school)
• Live Oak Tree at 1212 West 31st  (back of house)
• Live Oak Tree at 34th and Shoal Creek
• Live Oak Tree at 1300 Northwood (front yard)
• Live Oak Tree at 2815 Wooldridge (besides house) - 10th largest tree in Austin as possibly over 700 years old!
• Post Oak Tree at 1617 Northwood (front yard)
  

Come out and celebrate and honor the majestic centenarians of our urban forest! Austin would not be Austin without the trees. 

Austin Energy to "prune" trees in Bryker Woods

Austin Energy has informed the Bryker Woods neighborhood that Austin Energy will be working in the neighborhood this fall to prune and, if necessary, remove trees from near the high-voltage electric lines. This work along the transmission lines is routine, scheduled vegetation maintenance. Work planners will evaluate each property to determine if tree work is necessary, and if work is required, they will make every effort to contact each property owner to discuss the proposed work. Austin Energy staff will work with each property owner to outline the work to be performed on their property. All tree work will be performed by our contractor, Asplundh Tree Company, under supervision of Certified Arborists from Austin Energy and Asplundh. Only a limited number of properties, located along the transmission lines and easements in your neighborhood may be affected. If you or any of your neighbors have any questions about the proposed tree work or any tree replacements for individual properties affected, you may contact me (Carl Schattenberg) at (512) 322-6931 (office), or Ray Henning, Line Clearance Superintendent, at (512) 322-6930 (office).

Learn more about the City of Austin Tree Pruning program at:

http://www.austinenergy.com/Customer%20Care/Other%20Services/Tree%20Pruning/index.htm

Bid adieu our grand neighborhood sycamore tree

On the 34^th/Jefferson triangle green-space a sign has been placed on the sycamore tree indicating the removal of tree. The city arborist has deemed the tree a public hazard. The sycamore tree was planted by a local Girl Scout Troop approximately 40 years ago and within the last several years the central Texas drought has finally taken toll on this magnificent tree. The mighty sycamore has served the BrykWoods neighborhood well occupying the center of 34^th/Jefferson triangle green-space - a noble sentinel at a neighborhood gateway providing shade and refuge for a public green-space. Although we will all miss this tree, plans are in the works to plant another tree or trees in the 34^th/Jefferson triangle green-space. If you have some ideas, please attend the next BWNA board meeting (April 30^th 7:30pm Howson Library in Tarrytown) to share your thoughts. Bid adieu our grand neighborhood sycamore tree as you will be missed but not forgotten.