The comprehensive and long-term environmental policy of the President of Turkmenistan is aimed at harmonizing the development of the Turkmen society and natural environment, creating ecologically clean environment. The country is successfully implementing measures for conservation and rational use of the natural resources, introduction of new ecologically safe technologies, and provision of environmental safety in general. The close attention of the Head of state to these issues gave impetus to the big work to turn the whole country into the blooming garden. The measures are being taken enrich our nature and preserve each of its resources.
Forests and gardens are one of the main parts of the vegetation cover, representing numerous groups of plants.
The vegetation cover is one of the most powerful conditions for improving of the environment. The trees and shrubs prevent and protect soil from degradation, change the chemical composition, temperature and humidity of the near-earth atmosphere, purify air from harmful gases and vapors and eliminate pathogenic microorganisms. In one year, the wood plants absorb about 2 tons of carbon and enrich air with oxygen, emitting 10 billion cubic meters of oxygen.
The successfully implemented National Forest Programme in Turkmenistan considers forests as an important factor in improving the ecological welfare of the country and is aimed at protecting forests, preventing the felling of trees and shrubs. Every year in spring and autumn, seedlings of the of the deciduous and fruit bearing trees are planted throughout the country. The mountain, coastal and desert forest are created. This is most common types of trees in our country.
Juniperus virginiana is a coniferous tree, belongs to the Cupressaceae family. It is a rugged, extremely long-lived, medium-sized evergreen tree that grows 40 to 50 feet tall. While this tree is very tolerant of poor soil, it requires needs full sun. Its fragrant, scale-like foliage varies in color from gray-green to blue-green to light or dark green. All colors tend turn brownish-purple in winter. Female Eastern Red Cedar trees develop attractive, pale blue fruits.
This beautiful, aromatic native tree is an outstanding choice for screening or to provide year-long visual interest. It is also valued for the food and shelter it provides for songbirds.
Care of tree:
It is important to get your tree off to a good start by planting it properly in accordance with the instructions on the reverses of this sheet. After planting, use organic mulch to maintain a grass and weed-free area
Around the base of the young tree. Pine bark and pine needle mulches are very good, straight wood mulch is not. Avoid the use of non-organic mulches, which can cause the soil around the tree to stay excessivelywet. Also avoid the use of black plastic or fabric weed barrier in landscape beds or borders, which may interfere with air exchange into and out of the root system through the soil and contribute to surface rooting.
It is also important to pay careful attention to the proper watering of your tree. Give your tree three to five gallons of water at planting time, and again the following day to thoroughly settle the soil and eliminate large air pockets. Water newly planted trees every other day for the first two weeks after planting. After the first two weeks, continue watering once a week during the first three years if there has not been an inch of rain during the preceding week. Watering is not required during the winter months unless the weather is particularly dry. Please note that watering deeply once a week rather than watering lightly multiple times a week is important to the survival and health of your tree, as it encourages the tree to grow deeper roots and become a more drought-resistant tree once established.
You should also be sure to avoid lawn mower and string trimmer (“weed whacker”) damage to the base of your tree, as this bark damage stresses the tree and makes it more vulnerable to insect and disease attack.
Extensive string trimmer damage can cause a loss of vigor, decline, or even death, as cutting through the phloem or xylem right underneath the protective bark can disrupt the flow of water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the tree. Another task you will need to do as your tree grows is “limb it up,” or progressively cut off lower limbs while they are still small (under 2 inches in diameter) that are at a height you will not want big limbs at when the tree is more mature. It is not recommended that you do heavy pruning when you first plant your tree, but rather after the first year or so the tree is in the ground, and each year take off a few of the lower branches. Please note that pruning trees incorrectly is harmful to the tree and increases its chance of failure.
Planting Instructions:
- Dig a hole 3 to 4 times wider than the container. The hole should have sloping sides like a saucer to allow for proper root growth. The depth of the hole should be the same as the height of the root ball.
- Lay the tree on its side and carefully remove the tree from the container, keeping the soil around the roots intact. It helps to tap the outside of the container.
- If the root ball comes out of the pot as a solid mass and roots appear to be “circling”, score them with a sharp tool. Cut an X across the bottom of the root ball and four vertical slices along the sides about 1 inch deep. Gently work some of these roots loose. Do not let the roots dry out. Roots should be relatively loose so they can grow quickly into the surrounding soil. Look for and carefully prune away roots that cross over the main trunk or are growing in the ‘wrong direction’. If the roots are not circling and the tree comes out of the pot with loose soil, plant the tree as is taking care if possible to help spread the roots out in the planting hole.
- Set the tree in the middle of the hole. Avoid planting the tree too deep. See picture below for correct planting depth. The goal is to position the root flare (at the base of the trunk) just above ground level.
- Using some soil, secure the tree in a straight position, then fill and firmly pack the hole with original soil using a shovel and your hands. Do not use your feet this overly compacts the soil.
- Mulch your tree for at least the first 3 years it is in the ground. Place the mulch at a 3 to 4 inch depth in a three-foot diameter around the root zone. Pine bark or pine needle mulches are a good choice. Avoid wood mulch and dyed mulches. Do not pile up the mulch around the base of the tree.
Thus, it is necessary to continue and expand the scale of work to preserve and increase the species composition of the woody plants, and further afforestation of our country. The importance of creating forest plantations is increasing in order to strengthen and maintain the ecological culture of the Turkmen society.
G.Matiyeva,
Lecturer of the Turkmen Agricultural university
named after S.A.Nyyazov.