drtreelove

Soil-borne pathogens and root-rot are predicable and preventable, whether its papaya, or other species like durian that are highly susceptible to fungal and water-mold root decay. You can't just plant any tree on any site and expect smooth sailing. I miss the redwood forests and oak woodlands of my home in California. But I'm not planting redwoods and oaks here. (Growers planting durian in din-neow (poorly drained sticky clay rice fields) are going to have a sad and expensive realization in the long term when Phytophthora root rot advances and starts taking out trees). For any tree crop, ornamental and shade tree plantings, first comes good growing conditions. For root-rot sensitive trees, choose sites with sandy loam soil that drains well. If you don't have these conditions then maybe you will not be able to grow certain trees into maturity and prime productivity years. Know what you are planting and what ideal cultural conditions are required. Plant on high ground or on mounded soil, or top of large furrow rows, so they don't stand in wet soil for lengthy periods of time; thats when root rot sets in. The root crown is often the most susceptible anatomy. Don't "research" devastating plant disease after the fact. Get informed and be pro-active, do the research before you plan and plant. Next comes good soil and water management. If you depend on rainfall, and seasonal irrigation is not possible, due to site conditions or budget restrictions then you will have some challenges and serious limitations in tree health, growth, flowering, fruiting and productivity. Build soil fertility and don't rely on high NPK, high salt index chemical fertilizers, which are detrimental in the long term. Build % soil organic matter, benefical soil biology, humus and humic substances as a primary goal. Tree health, productivity and drought resistance will be the result. FYI: "Humic substances play a vital role in soil fertility and plant nutrition. Plants grown on soils which contain adequate humin, humic adds (HAs), and fulvic adds (FAs) are less subject to stress, are healthier, produce higher yields; and the nutritional quality of harvested foods and feeds are superior. The value of humic substances in soil fertility and plant nutrition relates to the many functions these complex organic compounds perform as a part of the life cycle on earth. The life death cycle involves a recycling of the carbon containing structural components of plants and animals through the soil and air and back into the living plant. Man became distracted from the importance of organic compound cycling when it was discovered that soluble acidic based N P K "fertilizers" could stimulate plant growth. Large industrial concerns took advantage of the N P K discovery to market industrially processed "fertilizers" from mineral deposits. Continued use of these acidic fertilizers in the absence of adequate humic substances (in the soil) has caused many serious sociological and ecological problems. Man needs to reconsider his approach to fertilization techniques by giving higher priority to soil humus. Humic substances are a good source of energy for beneficial soil organisms. Humic substances and non humic (organic) compounds provide the energy and many of the mineral requirements for soil microorganisms and soil animals. Beneficial soil organisms lack the photosynthetic apparatus to capture energy from the sun thus must survive on residual carbon containing substances on or in the soil. Energy stored within the carbon bonds functions to provide energy for various metabolic reactions within these organisms. Beneficial soil organisms (algae, yeasts, bacteria, fungi nematodes, mycorrhizae, and small animals) perform many beneficial functions which influence soil fertility and plant health. For example the bacteria release organic acids which aid in the solubilization of mineral elements bound in soil. Bacteria also release complex polysaccharides (sugar based compounds) that help create soil crumbs (aggregates). Soil crumbs give soil a desirable structure. Other beneficial soil microorganisms such as the Actinomyces release antibiotics into the soil. These antibiotics are taken up by the plant to protect it against pests. Antibiotics also function to create desirable ecological balances of soil organisms on the root surface (rhizoplane) and in soil near the roots (rhizosphere). Fungi also perform many beneficial functions in soils. For example, mycorrhizae aid plant roots in the uptake of water and trace elements. Other fungi decompose crop residues and vegetative matter releasing bound nutrients for other organisms. Many of the organic compounds released by fungi aid in forming humus and soil crumbs. Beneficial soil animals create tunnel like channels in the soil. These channels allow the soil to breath, and exchange gases with the atmosphere. Soil animals also aid in the formation of humus, and help balance the concentration of soil microorganisms. A healthy fertile soil must contain sufficient carbon containing compounds to sustain the billions of microscopic life forms required for a fertile soil and a healthy plant. A living soil is a fertile healthy soil. Humus functions to improve the soil's water holding capacity." Dr Robert Pettit ORGANICMATTERPettit.pdf UN Tropical Organics.pdf

That's a very good point, "Wrong Tree Wrong Place" is first on my list of common tree problems. Many people make that mistake, even landscape architects/garden designers who should know better. https://www.fertileearthlandcare.com/top-ten-tree-problems/

Tweechol Botanic Garden at Horizon Resort Tweecholbotanicgarden They have a great palm collection. ห้องประชุม สัมมนา จัดเลี้ยง ทีมบิวดิ้ง ที่ Horizon Village & Resort , Chiang Mai On Hwy 118 (CM - Doi Saket - Chiang Rai) on the left, about 6km past the 121 outer ring road. The adjacent hotel has a decent buffet breakfast and lunch too.

Your Garden of Eden sounds nice. Saraphi climate and soil has some good qualities, and some of the best trees and gardens I've seen in CM. To insure plant health, longevity and resistance to pests and diseases, consider going full route on progressive soil improvement in line with the incredible emerging science and practices being made known through the Regenerative Agriculture movement. There is a revolution in ag and horticulture going on. (See Kiss The Ground, Soil Food Web School, Advancing Eco Agriculture and other resources. There is a Regenerative Agriculture discussion on the Farming In Thailand forum, which has a lot of links to YouTube videos and reading materials.)

I'm concerned and wondering why the failures with coconut palms. I'm always puzzled when I hear something like that, It shouldn't be that way. I have a personal record of near 100% success with planting thousands of trees in landscapes and reforestation programs. Its all about appropriate species selection for the site, compatible plantings and irrigation, and growing condtions, good preparation, proper handling and planting technique, mulching and follow up with soil and water managment (not too much or too little). Local laborers tend to brutalize trees in the transporting and transplanting, and don't take responsibility for results. A lot of that is due to property owners looking for cheap plants and services. In my early career I was a foreman of a tree moving crew and the company I worked for guaranteed transplant health and survival for a year with a maintenance contract, so we had to take our professionalism seriously. New transplants, no matter how well they are handled have undergone extreme physiological stress and can be very vulnerable to any water deficit/drought stress, and can be highly susceptible to plant pests and diseases. So extra attention to follow up management, frequent monitoring, and early intervention for any problems is essential. Coconut palms need good water management while a new root system is established, and they can be attacked by coconut rhinoceros beetle and red palm weevil which are killer pests.

The tree suppliers near San Kamphaeng Hot Springs that you may be referring to are located in Mae On district near Huai Bok lake, near the intersection of roads 1317 and 4042. You can get there from San Kamphaeng on 1317, or from 118 past Doi Saket town, right on 3005, sign for Mae On. The attached photos have some signs with phone numbers. There are all sizes of trees and shrubs. The bigger trees are all traumatized, stubbed back in the tops and dug with extremely small root balls. Let the buyer beware. I didn't get prices.

From a recent discussion on the Farming forum:

I've use Dear Hearing Center in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Chonburi. Go to the main office in Bangkok if you can, they are the most complete with tech and repair services on site, the other branches do testing and orders, but send the work to the main office: 326/3-4 Sukhothai Road, Suanjitralda, Dusit, Bangkok 10300Tel: 02 – 668 – 1300 Fax : 02 – 668 – 1304Email: [email protected] But there are other branches throughout Thailand: OUR BRANCH — DEAR HEARING I recently made an expensive mistake and drowned a Signia in-ear device (over $2000. in the US.) by putting it through the clothes washer and dryer. The Dear branch in Chiang Mai provided replacement with a Widex device for 35,000, testing, smartphone app and all. The service was professional and efficient, perfect fit first time, and the quality of the device is the best I've had. (I'm saving up to replace the other side, which survived the washer and dryer to some extent, but with some loss of clarity.)

Same 4 pack of GS apples at Lotus Ruam Chok yesterday. They don't taste full flavor, obviously not high nutrient density (per taste buds not refractometer) , and barely ripened, harvested too early as is necessary for long distance imports. Some prefer Pippins for apple pie. Granny Smith, I think she was neighbor of Aunt Jemima, who washed with Dr Bronner castile soap, who bought his boots from Doc Martin.

Magnolia champaka, 11 months growth with good organic program management. My aroma-therapy tree.

I haven't been out to the Mae On tree growers in recent years, but I'm due for a visit. My wife is doing some real estate project management and we need to discover further resources for tree and landscape projects. I can keep an eye out for you. Do you have any favorites or ideas on what tree species you are looking for? I recommend avoiding the larger trees from the roadside tree yards (like in the two suggestions), there are some serious disadvantages in health and structural issues with these abused trees. They are dug and handled and stored with extremely unprofessional standards, and this can result in long term problems. Its tempting to go for larger trees, thinking that you will get an instant effect, and yes there are successful cases. But on the other hand, I have been called to assess many of these type of transplants that within 5 to 10 years have developed extensive root rot, wood decay and structural failures. Some species can take the abuse better than others, but some trees are prone to decay in the larger cut roots and limb structure. The progression of decay can go on unseen until there is branch breakage or wind-throw toppling. I recommend starting with smaller trees, giving them good growing conditions, soil fertility and water management. In this way the root systems and branch structure can develop and establish more naturally, without the extreme physiological stress and structural defects that occur with digging and moving the larger trees. Trees grow fast here with good care. In four years (and a better irrigation management program for the dry season) you will see some significant growth by the time you move back. Its not just my idea, but I agree with this from my 50 years of professional tree care experience: "I've seen smaller trees outgrow their larger counter parts MANY times....trees planted at the same time, in the same general location, and the same species. Smaller is better, smarter." "Studies have demonstrated that the size of transplanted trees has a measurable impact on establishment rates in the landscape. Larger trees require a longer period of time than smaller trees to produce a root system comparable in spatial distribution to similar sized non-transplanted trees. This lag in redevelopment of root system architecture results in reduced growth that increases with transplant size. Research has demonstrated that smaller transplanted trees become es- tablished more quickly and ultimately result in larger trees in the landscape in a few years" https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237555899_Infl_uence_of_Tree_Size_on_Transplant_Establishment_and_Growth "The main problem is that people want instant trees ... By digging up and transplanting a relatively large tree, the tree is suffering severe injury and shock to its current and often future health from which many trees will never recover. For better survival and health trees should be planted at a smaller size than... There are several sound environmental, physiological and economic reasons for planting smaller sized plants. Smaller is a relative term so what do I mean by smaller? For most trees, heights that measure from 5ft to 8ft is a good size for planting. This size is easy to handle, responds quickly after transplanting, is affordable but is large enough to visually fill the planting space. When a small tree is planted more of the root system is retained with the plant and the root system is more in balance with the above ground portion of the tree. A good thing to remember is that any plant is only as good as its root system. A tree can only grow leaves and branches if the root system can supply the needed water and nutrients. The roots of a small plant quickly establish in the surrounding soil and can then support new growth of the leaves and branches. For this reason smaller trees often catch up to and surpass the growth of trees that were planted at a larger size. The growth of the tree will adjust to the soil and moisture conditions where it is permanently planted, not to where it was grown in the nursery." http://www.whiteoaknursery.biz/essays/small.pdf

As you may know, there are different species of worms, and of termites, and different ideal habitat and food sources for each. And there are different methods of composting and soil management. If your soil, as in the open soil of your garden or landscape, is "packed with earthworms", and you have not introduced them, then they are probably the native worms, and you are probably doing something right, or you inherited organic matter rich soil that favors native earthworm habitat. If that is the case, then I would think that you do not need an outside source, just keep up with mulching and/or green manuring to maintain OM 3% or more if possible, which is hard to do in the tropics, but not impossible. But it appears that you are also discussing a different issue, worm composting. This uses specific species of worms like red wigglers that digest raw plant and animal waste like your kitchen garbage, in a containerized environment, not in open soil. Or African night crawlers like Biosuge/Best Garden State use, that can digest larger volumes of well mananged finished compost or mixed organic matter ingredients. I'm not an expert in worm composting, but I love using vermicompost and think its one of the best soil fertility inputs available. I have visited the Biosurge/BGS facility in Nakhon Pathom and used their product. I also buy worm castings and effluent from a large vermicompost facility connected to a cannabis grow at Mae Jo University Farm here in Chiang Mai. My NZ expat friend with an organic farm has been using red wiggler vermicompost and the liquid effluent for many years. He has a multi layer container set up with a faucet at the bottom layer for draining off the nutrient dense and beneficial-biology-rich effluent. He recently bought a couple of kilos of red wigglers from the MJU facility, to start new batch. Chosing the right kind of worms and learning the correct management methods and materials is vital for quality of the product and avoidance of odors, flys, rodents and other pests. I believe you can find a lot of information online and through Youtube videos. Maybe other memebers here have more experience than I do and can contribute some practical information. As for termites, what you describe is a curious phenomenon to me. I have done composting in several locations, for my own gardens and landscapes, mango and longan orchards, and for my customers, and not had this problem. I don't know termites that well, but the common subterranean termites, from my experience, don't usually go to living tissues of trees or to small chunks of wood or finer composting materials. They go to deadwood, stubs or heartwood-cavities on standing trees, logs or larger wood masses on the ground or buried. They do need moist soil for their subterranean nests, so they may have been taking advantage of the moisture from the compost pile and not necessarily feeding on the compost materials Ants will nest in compost piles that are not in a hot-composting stage. Could it be a mistaken identity with an ant colony and not termites?

Consider Ton Bpeep, Millingtonia hortensis (tree jasmine or Indian cork tree). Medium size evergreen tree, small leaves, gorgeous and highly fragrant when in full bloom. But to be frank, from the photos, I am concerned with your garden not being suitable for any tree other than a small-medium size palm, on more than 5 to 10 year plan. The wall, hardscape, and extremely restricted area for a tree to develop an extensive root zone, does not represent good growing conditions and ability to manage soil fertility and appropriate watering. (Which could have something to do with the existing tree being so sparse and in decline.) And then there is the risk of root encroachment and damage to the planter wall and gravel bed, which even roots from a small or medium tree will do in time. If you do decide to plant a medium size tree in the place of the existing tree, I would recommend that you install a root barrier inside the planter perimeter, 1.5 - 2 ft (45 - 60 cm) deep, rigid plastic composite or reinforced concrete/ferro-cement, to deflect lateral root growth, and give your hardscapes a few years without damage. BTW, in my opinion, I don't see much of a Japanese garden theme, except maybe the gravel bed having some resemblance to a Zen sand or gravel garden. If you could find a niwa-ki stylized pine or topiary tree, and add a water feature, then that may give some semblace to a Japanese garden feeling, and would preserve your hardscape. But you wouldn't get any shade value. Mine is just one remote opinion, I'm not there and don't know your available resources. Post your decisions and results please. Don

Build the soil and they will come. Don't build the soil and they will not survive. Favorable habitat is everything. Soil rich in organic matter content, cover cropped, shaded, mulched and without harsh chemical inputs is good habitat for earthworms. Order 1/4" screened vermicompost from Biosurge Thailand through Best Garden State on FB. (Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok) Organic Fertilizer Worm Winner Vermicompost from Thailand (biosurgethailand.com) "Our Vermicompost is screened to a large size of 1/4 inch- this means that there will be many worm eggs and juvenile worms in the final product..." I used this vermicompost last year, and at first I thought it wasn't effective, I didnt' see worms right away. But then after 3 or 4 months of building soil organic matter and mulching, plant growth and root exudates that help build soil structure, the latent worm population began to grow. BTW, eat high high-nutrient-density organic veggies, not the worms. You will shine and everybody will love you. Thank you for contributing to the organic sub-forum, I thought it was completely dead. Don

New book, by master regen ag educator John Kempf: Quality Agriculture: Conversations about Regenerative Agronomy with Innovative Scientists and Growers https://a.co/d/7meT3Ht "An increasing number of farmers and scientists believe the foundational ideas of mainstream agronomy are incomplete and unsound. Conventional crop production ignores biology in favor of chemical interventions, leading farmers to buy inputs they don’t need. Fertilizer recommendations keep going up, pest pressure becomes more intense, pesticide applications are needed more often, and soil health continues to degrade. However, innovative growers and researchers are beginning to think differently about production agriculture systems. They have developed practices that regenerate soil and plant health and that deliver much better results than mainstream methods. Using these principles, growers are able to decrease fertilizer applications, reduce disease and insect pressure, hold more water in the soil, improve soil health, and grow crops that are more resilient to climatic extremes, increasing farm profitability immediately. As a leading agronomist and teacher, John Kempf has implemented regenerative agricultural systems on millions of acres across many different crop types and growing regions with his team at Advancing Eco Agriculture. In Quality Agriculture, John interviews a group of growers, consultants, and scientists who describe how to think and farm differently in order to produce exceptional results in the field. Their remarkable insights will challenge you, encourage you, and inspire gratitude and joy for the rewards of working with natural systems." https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734844507/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_XDN32E955ZH43K3A8YVF_0

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park (thainationalparks.com) "The main attractions of the park are; Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Doi Pui Mountain, waterfalls, viewpoints and trails. The national park is one of the best in the country for hiking thanks to its “endless” trails throughout the park from all directions and elevations. Cycling is also very popular."

The Terracotta Garden At Lamphun สวนไม้ไทยพ่อเลี้ยงหมื่น - Home | Facebook and another Terracotts Garden Arts Garden in CM that I haven't been to. The Secret Terracotta Arts Garden in Chiang Mai - Tieland to Thailand

Any and all, there's lots to do and see outdoors, I just wanted to share some of the things I enjoy and hope others do too. Something other than bars and restaurants and shopping experiences. Regarding 700yr pool, its been clean everytime I've been there, as recently as last Saturday. Only one or two other swimmers. The weight room an old universal machines are well on their way to broken down and out of service, many dumbells have disappeared just in the last few months. The A/C treadmill and other machines room on the other side I haven't used recently. Its only open in the afternoon. The newer 50m pool at Mae Jo University is open, clean and cool with a full roof overhead. 50 baht. The bike/jog/MC path you describe runs parallel to the canal and leads all the way up to Huay Tung Tao lake park, which is another great outdoor resource. ( New bridge construction in progress at entry road). On the right side of the entry road, just past the temple, there is a parking lot for the free 4km bike/hike paved pathway circut. The lake park itself has an entry fee, I'm not sure of current prices. Besides the road around the lake with numerous pullouts, mini-parks and restaurants, at the far north end next to the forestry checkpoint at the road up the mountain (or end point to the mountain bike downhill) , there is a trailhead to a nice 2km hike to a waterfall. Hangout Like a Local at Huay Tung Tao Lake in Chiang Mai - Tieland to Thailand

Old cycling article written for Chiang Mai Mail in 2003. Some info is still good, but some is out of date. I'm not sure if the book referenced is still available. I haven't been on some of the Doi Pui cross country and downhill trails for a few years, conditions may have changed. Mt Biking with Don Lee.pdf

References for low or no cost outdoor activities, exercise and attractions. Comments, contributions, updates with current conditions welcome. 700th Anniversary Stadium - Wikipedia 50 meter swimming pool, tennis courts, jogging, cycling and other facilities. 700th Anniversary of Chiang Mai Sports Complex.pdf

Azadirachtin concentrate/neem seed oil extract, wood vinegar and lemongrass (leaf decoction/tea) The Aza concentrates available in Thailand are really low in active ingredient, like this one from Thai Neem at 0.1%, so its minimally effective and the reason that most growers will experience failed treatments and say that organic biopesticides don't work (as well as lack of 1 to 2 week interval repeats). Some preventive action as repellent and reproductive disruptor properties is the best you'll get. Botanicals work, you just have to know what to use and how to use it and what expectations to have or not have. They cannot be seen as a stand alone substitute for hard chemistry insecticide. They are effective if used as part of a comprehensive IPM program. Integrated Pest Management or I like to say Intelligent Plant Management) which includes soil fertility and water managment. Neemix from Certis USA is 4% a.i., AzaSol is 6% a.i. and will actually get some contact and translaminar knock down depending on the pest, host plant, timing of treatment. (In California when providing PHC (plant health care) for cannibis growers (legal, medicinal dispensary contract growers and hemp researchers), I used 70% neem oil during vegetative stage and swiched to AzaSol for flowering stage for control of budworms, spider mites etc, because its water soluble and doesn't leave an oily residue on the product. 70% neem oil is not available here but is very popular in the US. Its very low in Aza, but overall is a good preventive hort oil with some of the complex neem chemistry that acts as an arthropod pest repellent. You can mix with wood vinegar, but be careful of this because high concentrations will burn foliage. Some Thai organic greens growers use a lite wood vinegar tank mix and soak a bunch of ta-kite/lemongrass leaves with it for a couple of days, and spray weekly to keep the caterpillars away.

Taking it to another level. https://regenorganic.org/

If I have been led astray, then astray is where I want to be. I'm just saying, my health is improving weekly, along with sense of well being, spiritual awareness, progressive mastery of my profession, marriage, and cycling legs and lungs that allow me to ride and breathe in the refreshing farmland, hills and forests. Dropping sugar, alchohol, seed oils, preserved foods, plastic containers, Rx medications, recreationals, and consuming low carb high fat foods, high nutrient density organically grown foods as much as possible, exercising, chi kung, using TCM herbs and acupuncture, observing Ayurvedic Tridosha and TCM dietary principles, yin and yang, five elements, thermal qualities of heating and cooling foods, is not for everybody, 200 years of modern science plus thousands of years of Taoist and Ayurvedic empirical research, all works for me, take it or leave it. Back to the OP. My favorite breakfast is fish and eggs.

Be Fixed, MeeChok Plaza. (1001 at the middle ring road 3029) Upstairs, inner hallway behind a toy store, stairway near the toilets . Khun Oh speaks pretty good English, but he is kind of quiet and humble so you may not think so at first. Take a Thai friend translator if possible. He is a really nice man and very smart and good at what he does with hardware and software. One man shop. Call first to confirm his schedule. Usually opens 10am Mon - Sat. but this is a holiday week. 081 783 5920

Should be 107 Mae Rim Hwy not 108.