Tree of the Week: January 23rd, 2024
With the stormy week we have been having in Southern California, ArborNote’s Tree of the Week is the Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) because of its ability to intercept rainwater before it hits the ground! Interception refers to the precipitation that does not reach the soil, but is instead intercepted by the leaves, branches of trees and plants. Large evergreens or conifers, like Blue Spruce, can capture two to three times that amount because they are in leaf year round and have more leaf surface area. The Blue spruce held the most rainwater (1.81 mm) with its many narrow spaces formed by rigid needles, buds and stems. Canary island pine (Pinus canariensis) had the lowest storage capacity for conifers (0.99 mm) because water flowed readily down its long, flexible needles. With how quickly Southern California roads flood, seems like we should be planting more Blue Spruces!
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