NEW ~ WATER CONSERVING PLANTS FOR NORTH COUNTY LANDSCAPES
Click here for list of approximately 150 California Native & Other Water Conserving Plants

IMPORTANT ~ READ HOW YOU CAN PROTECT TREES & PROPERTY FROM WILD FIRES
Click here for information on fire season prevention strategies.

CURRENT INFORMATION ON SUDDEN OAK DEATH SYNDROME
Click here to read recent information on this spreading threat to native oak trees.

ANTA COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE - Click here for details.

JOIN US!
ANTA is a community based organization. Your participation will make a difference! Help us protect our native trees!

Our meetings are held monthly. For more information on how you can participate or about our organization, please email us at anta93422@gmail.com  or call us at (805) 461-7610.

FIRE SEASON PREVENTION STRATEGIES

With the lower water levels, ongoing drought and hot summer weather, wild fire prevention is an urgent issue. We can all help prevent wild fires this summer season.

To protect established trees and shrubs from wild fire, clear dry vegetation from under the plants and trees. Also clear the area around them.

For plants on your property, be sure to check the mulch and water when necessary.

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE PLANTS
The following plants are highly susceptible to fire, and highly flammable. Be aware of these plants if they are on your property. They are highly flammable. Be sure to clear away all dry vegetation from around these plants:

• Eucalyptus
• Pine
• Juniper
• Cypress
• Cedar
• Pampas Grass

FIRE RESISTANT PLANTS
Fire Resistant Plants help protect our urban forest resources. These plants are more drought tolerant, and have less flammable content. Some are native to the Central Coast area. The following plants are fire resistant:

• Oak
• Sycamore
• Black Walnut
• Redwood
• European Olive
• Catalina Cherry
• Madrone
• Red Bud

For more information on wild fire prevention, please call ANTA (805) 461-7610.

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SUDDEN OAK DEATH SYNDROME

According to a report published in the San Luis Obispo County Tribune (Oct. 15, 2003), the pathogen known as Phytopthora ramorum, better known as Sudden Oak Death Syndrome has now reached Plaskett Creek in the southern Big Sur area. This occurrence brings this deadly oak-killing disease within 10 miles of San Luis Obispo County. This outbreak is 20 miles south of Julia Pfeiffer State Park, the previous southern tip of known infestations.

Some potentially very good news is that a treatment has just been approved to combat SOD. This development could save thousands of homeowners' trees from this disease. A product called Phosphite, also known as phosphonate produced by the Australian company AGRICHEM protects endangered trees and helps infected trees fight off the disease, according to University of California scientists.

Early in October, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation approved two versions of the treatment. One is a spray and the other is an injection formula, for use by professional arborists and foresters. The UC Berkeley scientist who has led the research efforts to combat SOD, Matteo Garbelotto, warns that "this is not the final solution. It is just one tool in a series of efforts to stop the pathogen. But it also gives us hope. The general belief had always been that you can't do anything to stop the disease in the forest. This shows there are some things that can be done."

Sudden Oak Death has killed tens of thousands of Tan Oak, Coast Live Oak and Black Oak trees in California and Oregon, and has spread to at least 27 other species of plants, most of which are not killed but act as hosts. Scientists believe there are 11 other kinds of plants that have been infected, but the research to verify those findings has not been completed.

Important Information Link: California Oak Mortality Task Force

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HOW TO PROTECT NATIVE TREE SEEDLINGS

Just as a healthy community consists of people of all ages, a healthy urban forest also must have trees of all ages. Although it may not be apparent, many areas of Atascadero have only older trees, with few, if any new tree seedlings.

There are simple procedures that can be done to encourage growth of new native tree seedlings. Here are some suggestions, by season:

FALL: Collect acorns, locate and stake established seedlings, mulch seedlings, install seedling shelters.

WINTER: Plant acorns, carefully weed around seedlings, check mulch.

SPRING: Survey the land for new seedlings, install shelters where trees are desired, hand-weed around seedlings before fire hazard abatement.

SUMMER: Check mulch, water when necessary.

The native trees that most urgently need your help include:

• Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)
• Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
• Black Walnut (Juglans californica)

ANTA is in partnership with the Atascadero Fire Department to protect oak seedlings during spring weed abatement. The Atascadero Fire Department includes a brochure produced by ANTA with their weed abatement notices.

For further information in planting and sheltering native seedlings, please call us at (805) 461-7610, or email us: anta93422@gmail.com 

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