For decades we, as a collective society, have been planting predominantly male trees due to their lack of seedpods that litter our sidewalks, streets and yards without putting much thought into the ramifications of such a lopsided choice. The downside of this logic is an unbalanced quantity of pollen producers (male) vs. pollen collectors (female). The female tree, chastised for her litter, not only helps to capture pollen from the air before our noses can, but in many cases produces a visually stimulating flower upon which to pontificate life’s wonders.
Pollen-producing trees aggravate allergies for many Southwest citizens. Photo courtesy: Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
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The female flower is alternately charged to attract the male’s pollen from the air in the case of wind-pollinated species. Without the receiving flower present, pollen is left to drift along in abnormal amounts. A society is subject to greater quantities of airborne pollen free to roam into houses, offices, schools and sinuses. Fewer flowers also attribute to the decline of pollinators because there is a dearth of “floral snack bars.”
One major pollen contributor in the Las Vegas valley is the mesquite tree (Prosopis spp.). Most of the mesquites planted are males filled with copious amounts of pollen bags every springtime. There are literally thousands of drooping clusters packed with pollen.
As the economy continues to show signs of recovery, so does the price of fertilizer for the golf and landscape industry. In the fall of 2008, fertilizer prices peaked, creating a scenario of anxiety and uncertainty. Key components for manufacturing fertilizer such as ammonia and potassium were trading at over $1,000. Today Ammonia and Potassium are trading just under $500. While we breathe a sigh of relief that fertilizer prices have decreased to manageable levels, several lessons were learned from coping with this challenge.
Choosing the right fertilizer can save time and money in a tough economy, as well as keeping your turf looking its best. Photo courtesy: Bill Rohret, CGCS, Angel Park Golf Course, Las Vegas, NV.
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High prices and tight budgets forced turf professionals to be creative with their fertilizer programs. There was a willingness to experiment with less expensive blends, new technologies, and organics. Several states were regulating the use of fertilizers and the enthusiasm to “Go Green” raised awareness of managers and property owners alike.
While all these factors had huge impacts and warranted an evaluation of all products, few will argue that the trend has changed over the past couple of years. And even fewer argue that the approach to plant nutrition has changed too.
