Tree care

Here I describe mostly elm removal, given that the newly planted trees haven't grown large enough to require much care.

The Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) is an introduced tree that thrives in this climate. It has a vigorous root system that goes after water around and in sewage lines and under patios and other structures, which it damages. Like other elms, it can grow into a large and graceful tree, but I haven't heard anyone defending it for its shade and beauty. There were four good-sized ones on the place. Three were ratty-looking, with dead branches and poor form, and in November 2013 Reggie and I managed to take them down, with a little help from Mike Quintana, who saw our inexpert attempts at limbing the third and finished it off for us. Then Mike and crew took a couple of days to remove the big one.

Not shown is our two days of cutting elm saplings on the N half of the property. The stumps will need to be poisoned, as no light tractor can grub them out and they'll resprout. But I noticed that they grew in wetter areas, at the base of slopes and around the seep. So that's where we'll plant something more useful.

The Socorro county fire marshal's office (Ken Wolf and associate) run a free brush-chipping service, and two hours one morning with the help of Reggie and Susan feeding the piles of elm saplings into the chipper resulted in several piles of mulch. This will be used in fruit-tree basins.