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Did you ever look at your cardboard delivery box and wonder how it was made, or what materials were used to make it? Trees provide us with a plethora of things, from paper, pulp, and tannins to dyes, gum, and corks. Surely you can’t make paper with just any ol’ tree, can you?

The trees used for papermaking fall into two categories: hardwood and softwood. Softwood trees like pines, spruces, hemlocks, and firs are excellent trees for paper. Hardwood trees, like poplars, birch, hickory, maple, and sweetgum, are for sturdier printing paper and magazines.

Trees are amazingly beneficial to humans, the environment, and wildlife. Let’s check out which trees can make paper and also discuss some alternatives.

How Many Trees Are Needed To Make Paper?

When you think of how thin copy paper is, you might not think it takes much to make. You would be right – a single piece of paper uses a tiny percentage of the tree. But how many people buy just a single piece of paper…. none, really.

Let’s put into perspective just how many trees are necessary to keep the world spinning. According to 2016 statistics gathered from Dartmouth University, in North America alone, each person used about 474 pounds of paper that year.

This seems like a staggering number, right? Well, take into consideration this includes ALL paper products – computer paper, newspapers, towels, toilet paper, cardboard boxes, corrugated paper, etc.

A single tree can make around 8,333 sheets of copy paper. That comes out to about 6% of a tree being used for each ream of paper (500 sheets).

You get the point… you need a lot of trees to provide paper products for everyone who needs them. So where exactly do paper industries get these trees from?

If you are interested in more information about the number of trees needed to let the paper industry thrive, check out this piece: How Many Trees Are Cut Down For One Piece Of Paper? The sheer amount is astounding.

Where Do Paper-Making Trees Come From?  

Paper industries are not out to get your lovely backyard oak for their paper products. So where do they get the trees they need?

A lot of the wood used in the paper-making business comes from waste products of lumber mills. Wood scraps, sawdust, and woodchips are all sent to paper mills to be smashed into a pulp and eventually made into paper.

This is an excellent way to reduce wasting the unusable parts of the tree at lumber mills. For example, branches typically have no use in lumber, only trunks. They can chip those branches up and ship them off to a paper mill to put them to good use!

If they do not get the trees from lumber mills, they can also get the wood from some national forests.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, around 190,000 acres of trees are available for harvesting in various Forest Service lands. It may seem like a lot, but the 190,000 acres is out of 193 million acres of all Service lands (about 0.1%)

When the above two options are not used, paper mills can get trees by owning forest land. They will clear-cut the trees and use seeds to replant those trees. However, they will not be ready to cut again for about a quarter of a century.

Can Paper Be Made From Any Tree?

If you can make paper from any old tree, then why not use plantations with the fastest growing trees? Unfortunately, not all trees can be used for paper.

There’s a reason some trees are better for making paper than others. Pines, spruces, birch, and hickory are all popular trees used in the paper-making industry. Using trees of a lesser quality can cost more to make in both monetary value and environmental pollution.

The harder the process to make paper, the less useful the product. Some hardwood trees have fibers too small to make into proper paper products. Instead of wasting time and energy on these trees, paper industries prefer easier trees like those mentioned above.

This process creates less waste and uses lower energy to produce paper products. Humans have been making paper for a few thousand years. Surely they have the process down by now!

You can give the process a try yourself if it piques your interest. Kits like the Aoibrloy Paper Making Screen Kit can give you a head start on your journey. They have two different sizes to choose from, so you can decide how big you want your paper to be.

9 Different Trees Used To Make Paper

Now onto the good stuff! We’re going to start with softwood trees since they are the most prized trees for paper making.

Softwoods are so valuable for paper because they have long fibers in the wood. This makes for great paper and not-so-great construction materials.

Pine Trees

Pine trees are conifers and evergreens, keeping their holiday-themed pine needles all year round. They are also softwood trees with long fibers good for paper making.

Even though these softwoods can be made into paper, pine trees aren’t the best choice because all pines contain pitch. This adds a few more steps in the pulping process some of the other softwood trees can skip.

According to the USDA’s Forest Products Laboratory, the most popular pine trees used to make paper include:

• Lodgepole Pine
• Eastern White Pine
• Southern Yellow Pine
• Jack Pine
• Ponderosa Pine
• Sugar Pine

Pine trees used in the paper industry will preferably contain as little heartwood as possible. This is the strong, albeit dead, inner part of the pine tree’s trunk.

Spruce Trees

If you are not careful, you could easily mistake a spruce tree for a pine tree. These trees are also evergreens, conifers, and softwoods with needles and cones.

One of the biggest differences between pine and spruce is the needles. Pine trees have clusters of needles connected to the pulvinus (sort of like a joint that the needles attach to), while spruces have only one needle per pulvinus.

Just like pine trees, spruce trees have a variety of different species, each with its quirks and characteristics.

Spruce trees are used for a ton of different things. They are a prized choice for Christmas trees, used to make wood for musical instruments, and, of course, paper! Pretty much all spruce trees are wonderful for the paper industry.

Hemlock Trees

You can find hemlock trees all over the United States and in Canada. Only four species are native to North America, the rest find themselves at home in Asia. 

The two big categories of hemlock are eastern and western. These names coincide with where the trees grow in the United States. No matter what species of hemlock, they are evergreen and coniferous.

Hemlocks are a lot harder to grow for sustainable purposes than other trees. They are old and wise, living as long as 900 years sometimes and take about a hundred years to mature.

There are several faster options than the hemlock.

Western hemlocks are preferred to eastern hemlocks because of the need for more bleach on eastern hemlocks. Its pulp is darker than the western hemlock and makes weaker paper.

Fir Trees

There are fir trees and then there are true fir trees. True fir trees are what we are talking about here, not those fakers like Douglas-fir.

True fir trees provide similar paper quality to spruce trees. Pretty much any true fir can make good-quality paper.

There is one exception, the California red fir. Similar to Eastern Hemlocks, Cali red firs make for a darker pulp, which requires more bleaching. Most paper manufacturers want the process to be as fast, cheap, and convenient as possible, so they opt for the better fir trees.

White Cedar Trees

The last softwood tree on our list is the white cedar tree. And despite its name, it is not a cedar tree. You may know them by another name: arborvitae.

These evergreen trees enjoy wet, boggy areas with well-drained soils and lots of sun. Similar to hemlock, white cedar trees grow slowly according to Iowa State University. 

Along with being good for the paper-making business, white cedars make fantastic privacy fences and windbreaks.

Speaking of paper-making, how do white cedar trees stack up against our other softwood trees so far? 

White cedar is easy to make into pulp with little to no extra effort. However, each tree yields less fiber than the others because of the wood being less dense than, say, a spruce tree or pine tree.

Hickory Trees

Hickory trees range from the eastern United States and west until about the middle of the country. They are not commonly found any further west.

These hardwood trees are not used as commonly as the softwood trees mentioned above, but they can be made into printing paper and writing paper. 

There are over 15 species of hickory tree, all of which belong to the walnut family. Who knew?!

Hickory trees are used more often for shipping boxes and corrugated boards, but the short fibers can be used for paper if they are in good condition. The process for making these walnut cousins into paper requires more energy than the softwoods, so it’s not highly sought after.

Poplar Trees

Aspen trees, Cottonwoods, and balsam poplars all belong to the willow family. These trees are all poplars and are rather popular in the paper-making industry.

Poplars do not make very strong paper, so they are often used to make newspapers and magazine papers with flimsy sheets. They are also used to make toilet paper.

This popular tree is both useful and nice to look at in the yard. We all know the quaking aspens that glow a brilliant yellow in the fall, but there are plenty of other species that look just as nice in your backyard.

However, you cannot plant these trees very close to buildings or other structures. The roots are very fast-growing and can damage foundations and sidewalks.

While poplars have decent wood for pulp making, they also have the benefit of being fast growers. They can grow up to five feet per year, which is significantly more than, say, an oak tree. 

Poplars are typically between 50 to 80 feet tall at maturity, making them a good choice for both hardwood products like lumber and plywood, as well as softwood products like paper.

Birch Trees

According to North Carolina State University, there are around sixty species of birch trees in the Northern Hemisphere. Like the other hardwood trees on our list, birch trees are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in the fall and winter.

For paper-making, birch trees are similar to poplar trees. They are a hardwood tree, so the fibers are small, so the paper is less durable than a softwood tree. 

Popular paper-based products from birch trees include books, wrapping paper, and container boards such as those used to fill spaces in shipping boxes.

Birch trees do best in colder climates, where the snow covers the ground for most of the winter. You will not see a birch tree next to a palm tree very often!

Maple Trees

Ah, maple syrup, the best companion to pancakes and waffles. Maple syrup does come from maple trees. As do a few paper products!

In terms of paper production, maple trees most closely resemble the paper from birch trees. The wood is often used to make container paper, books, and wrapping paper.

Being a hardwood tree, maples are used for more than just paper products. They’re also made into furniture and railroad ties according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Maple trees do not get as much use as some of the softwood trees mentioned earlier. They are also slow growers, making them more undesirable than fast-growing trees for paper making.

What Are The Best Trees To Make Paper Out Of?

Now that we have gone over the nine most popular trees that are made into paper, let’s figure out which one is the BEST to make into paper.

Spruce and fir trees are the best choice when making paper. They are moderate- to fast-growing trees, making them more renewable than some of the other choices. Spruce and true fir trees also require little energy to make into pulp.

No extra removal techniques or additional bleaching are required to turn these trees into paper. Since both spruce and fir are softwood trees, they’re also not highly sought after for furniture, cabinets, or other manufactured wood products, making them more available for paper products. 

What Are The Worst Trees To Make Paper Out Of?

As we mentioned before, not just any old tree can be used to make paper. It has to have long enough fibers to form paper properly, and the trunk must not contain a lot of heartwood.

So, which trees do paper manufacturers avoid harvesting? The least desirable trees include:

• Bald Cypress
• Larch
• Redwood
• Douglas Fir
• Red Cedar

The reason these trees are so undesirable for making into paper is because of the lengthy (and expensive) process the wood must go through before it is viable for paper manufacturing.

The wood must undergo an alkaline process and get pre-treated with steam to be fit to make it into paper.

The additional resources and time needed to convert these trees into paper are just not worth it, especially when the finished paper is typically lower in strength and quality than other options out there.

Is Paper Always Made From Trees?

According to the University of Massachusetts, southern white pine is the most common source of paper pulp in the United States. 

While some companies try to be sustainable with their paper-making processes, they still need a ton of trees to produce the necessary amount of paper. That means clearing hundreds of acres of trees just to produce a few months’ worth of paper.

Is there anything out there we can use instead of trees to make paper? The answer is a surprising yes!

Bamboo, hemp, and cotton are all alternatives that are used to make paper. While this sounds like excellent news, you may wonder why we are still cutting down trees to make paper.

One reason is hemp was illegal in the United States until 2018 when hemp was legalized at the federal level.  It’s a great alternative to paper, but it needs to gain some traction and momentum to affect the market.

If you would like to test out hemp paper, the Green Field Paper-Hemp Heritage® Mini Ream is a great place to start. It can be used in laser or inkjet printers and is the stark white color we are used to.

A second reason is the U.S. is a little stubborn. India and China are the major producers of pulp made from bamboo, but the U.S. continues to use trees. Why? They’ve always used trees, and the paper processing plants are made for trees, not bamboo.

Seems like a lame excuse, but it’s true. To change all the harvested forests into bamboo forests would cost a lot of time and money. Not to mention, changing the manufacturing process from wood to bamboo would require money, time, and new resources.

Paper Can Be Made From Kenaf

If you have never heard of kenaf, it is understandable. Few people know about this possibly world-changing crop.

Kenaf is part of the Hibiscus genus and is native to Africa. It is cousins with okra and cotton and enjoys warm, tropical climates and shivers at temperatures below 50℉.

Kenaf is very useful in the wood and paper industry. This plant combines both softwood and hardwood properties. Remember, softwood is better for paper products, while hardwood is better for lumber, furniture, and cabinets.

This multi-use plant has a hard inner part of the stem that is made of hardwood-like short fibers, while the outer part of the stem is long fibers like softwood trees.

The most beneficial aspect of the kenaf plant is that it grows to maturity in less than six months. Its height at maturity can reach up to 20 feet, but most grow between 8 feet and 14 feet. 

Comparing this to trees, which can take 25 years or more to reach maturity, it’s a no-brainer to use kenaf instead of trees.

The only states putting time into researching and using kenaf are Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and the Southeast United States, according to Purdue University.

Wrapping Up!

There’s more to making paper than many people think: the type of tree used, the need for additional bleaching or steam, the type of paper you can make, and the quality of the final product are all things to think about when choosing a tree for paper.

Each tree has a unique type of wood. One might be better for magazines, while another is better for copy paper.

Overall, the 9 most common trees used in the paper industry include:

• Pine
• Spruce
• Hemlock
• True Fir
• White Cedar
• Hickory
• Poplar
• Birch
• Maple

Trees are a staple to the health of the environment. We are conscious now more than ever of our impact on the planet, which is why paper alternatives are being researched. 

Bamboo, cotton, hemp, and kenaf are all gaining traction to replace trees in the paper manufacturing process.

Trees provide us with so many benefits and are truly one of the most important organisms on the planet. The next time you see a tree on your morning commute or your lunchtime walk, maybe you will smile and have a little more appreciation for all the things trees do for us.

If you’re interested in finding out more about different types of trees, what the best ones are for your landscape, or how to grow a tree from a seed, check out our the rest of our website to start your tree journey today!

References

Krishna, P. J. (2003, August). Transgenic Aspen Trees with Altered Lignification: Good News for Pulp and Paper Industry. ISB News Report. 

Maminska, R. T. (2017, October). Limits and perspectives of pulp and paper industry wastewater treatment – A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 78, 764-772. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032117306561

Seth, M. K. (2003). Trees and their economic importance. The Botanical Review, 69, 321-376. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1663/0006-8101(2004)069[0321:TATEI]2.0.CO;2

Sinclair, P., & Walton, J. (2003, September 17). Environmental reporting within the forest and paper industry. Business Strategy and the Environment, 12(5), 326-337. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bse.376

As you probably know, mangoes are a sweet fruit that comes from a tree and is used in many dishes and desserts. But do you know anything beyond that, like how or where mango trees grow? 

Mango trees typically live well past 100 years and can produce fruit until the late stages of their life cycle. Mango trees planted from seeds will take roughly 8 years to produce fruit, while mango trees planted from saplings will take up to 5 years to produce mangoes.

Before we dive any deeper into those intricate details about mango trees, let’s take a moment to get back to the basics, shall we? To talk about how a mango tree grows, we should first give a mention to the mangoes themselves, the reason why these trees are so loved. Let’s get into it!

What Is A Mango?

A mango is, of course, a sweet fruit that comes from a tree…but it is also so much more!

Native to South Asia, this fruit is one of the most highly cultivated tropical fruits.

The flesh of the mango (the part you eat) is typically yellow or orange, but the skin can be quite the range of colors! You can see red, yellow, orange, green, or perhaps a mixture of them all in the skin of a mango. It just depends on the stage in the ripening process and some other chemical processes that impact the outward appearance of the mango.

The type of fruit is called a ‘stone fruit’ which is exactly what it sounds like. 

Why Is A Mango A Stone Fruit?

Stone fruit is a type of fruit that contains, you guessed it, a stone (or a pit.)

Did you know, though, that the pit itself is not the seed of these sorts of fruit? 

The seed is found inside of the stone, which can be cut open to retrieve the seed. This is an important nuisance to be aware of if you are looking to grow a mango tree directly from a mango seed. 

Popular stone fruits are peaches, mangoes, apricots, cherries, nectarines, plums, and dates. 

What Type Of Tree Is A Mango Tree?

Mango trees are evergreen and their leaves last for many years at a time. 

As one of the most widely cultivated tropical fruits in the world, mangoes’ variability in color and size is not the only part of this plant that is adaptable. 

These trees can live for quite some time and can produce fruit quite late into their lifespan. 

Speaking of which, let’s finally dive into the lifespan of a mango tree.

What Is The Lifespan Of A Mango Tree?

Alright, alright- we are finally getting to the part that you are here for!

A mango tree lives for well over 100 years, producing fruit well into the late stages of its life.

Let’s dive into the different stages of a mango tree’s life, from planting to maturity to the end of it all. Here are some of the things you can expect as you work to grow and maintain a mango tree:

Early Mango Tree Lifespan And Planting

To plant a mango tree from the seed, you have to start with the pit and the rest will follow. 

Follow these easy steps to procure a mango seed and plant yourself a tree!

1. Cut open your mango to reach the pit (aka the stone.)
2. Clean the pit until you can see the husk without much extra mango on it.
3. Grab a pair of heavy-duty scissors and cut the pit open.
4. Squeeze the mango seed out of the husk of the pit.
5. If the seed has any extra coating around it, clean this off.
6. Wrap your seed into a wet paper towel and place it inside a bag until it sprouts. Check often to be sure that you don’t leave your seed for too long.
7. Plant the seed in potting soil. 
8. Watch your tree begin to grow!
9. You’ll need to re-pot the mango tree as it grows, eventually placing the tree directly in the ground.

You will want to start by covering the roots of your not-quite-mature mango tree, especially any newly planted trees or shrubs, with a few inches of shredded mulch. 3-4 inches of this layer should do the trick to create some insulation around the base of the tree. Creating a mulch donut of sorts, pulling the mulch to about 6 inches around the trunk on every side, will ensure that any stray roots will not be subject to the freezing temperatures.

If there are any cracks in the soil around your tree as you are completing this first step, you’ll want to make sure that they are filled in with new soil before you move on. 

If you wish to grow a mango tree without having to purchase the actual fruit itself, you can look into products like these prepared Dichondra Fresh Mango Seeds.

Growing Mango Trees To Maturity

If you are planting a mango tree from the seed, you should expect to wait 5-8 years before getting any fruit. 

However, planting seeds is not the only way to go. Planting saplings will help you lower your wait time as you patiently let the tree mature long enough to bear fruit. 

A mango tree sapling will bear fruit about 4 years after it is planted, significantly less than a mango tree planted from seed. 

This is no surprise, as saplings are often already a few years old by the time of purchase, but can be an important factor to remember if getting fruit sooner is your ultimate goal.

End Of Life For Mango Trees

Information from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse tells us that the oldest living mango tree is 300 years old and still produces fruit! This tree can be found in East Khandesh, in India. 

So, that mango trees can live over 100 years feels almost like an understatement. These trees have quite a long lifespan and the ability to produce fruit until the end of the tree’s life says a lot about the vicarious nature of this tree. 

How Long Can A Mango Tree Produce Fruit?

After flowering, a mango tree takes three to five months for the fruit to ripen.

These trees can begin producing fruit as young as 5 years after being planted from the seed and can bear fruit until the very end of their lifespan as seen by the 300-year-old mango tree in India that continues to bear fruit. 

This means that mango trees produce fruit from early mature life until the very end. 

Theoretically, if every tree lived as long as the oldest tree, each plant could bear 295 years’ worth of fruit.

How To Grow A Mango Tree

As a reminder, you can plant a mango tree from the seed in a few simple steps.

1. Cut open your mango.
2. Clean the pit.
3. Cut the pit open.
4. Squeeze the mango seed out.
5. If the seed has any extra coating, clean it.
6. Wrap your seed into a wet paper towel and place it inside a bag until it sprouts. Check often.
7. Plant the seed in potting soil. 
8. Watch your tree begin to grow!
9. You’ll need to re-pot the mango tree as it grows.

These few steps are important factors to plant a tree, but there is more that goes into growing the tree itself. 

If you want to start your mango seedlings off on the right foot, try out some good seedling mixes such as this Sun Gro 8-Quart Mix!

The basis of a healthy tree starts at its origin, so making sure to take external factors into your planting plans can make a big difference. 

Then, as your tree grows you’ll be able to make informed decisions about how you maintain it to keep a healthy mango tree with great fruit. 

Best Time Of Year For Growing And Harvesting Mangos

Mango is harvested in the warmer months of late spring and summer, but when should you plant a mango tree for best results?

Late winter to early spring is the best time to plant a mango tree. 

This is because the plant does not actively grow during this point of the year and will be better able to get situated in the soil before active growth continues in the warmer months of the year.

Best Location For Growing Mangos

Where do mangoes grow best, exactly?

Mango trees are best suited for a tropical climate, really anywhere in the USDA hardiness zone 9 and above. 

This means, essentially, that you should be planting a mango tree in an area where the temperature does not dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Areas that do not tend to have a frost are the prime candidates for these trees, like warm regions of Hawaii,California, Florida, and other areas along the Gulf of Mexico. 

No matter where you plan to plant your mango tree, it is important to be aware of hardiness zones and their implications.

Fertilize Your Mangos To Maximize Their Lifespan

If you have been reading our pieces for a while now, you know that fertilizer is the name of the game. 

While this does not plant food, as it is often (and incorrectly) referred to, it does act as a way to help trees and other plants absorb more of those oh-so-important nutrients that they need.

You can fertilize your mango tree 3 times a year, during each season that is not winter, starting at a lower amount when the tree is young and increasing slightly to adjust to the larger size of the tree as it matures. 

Though mango, by definition, is not a citrus, the tree does require many of the same nutrients to grow at a healthy, stable rate. 

Balanced fertilizers, but a little high in nitrogen content, will be best for these types of trees. 

When looking for certain specific nutrients, you’ll want to keep an eye out for phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen (the big 3 of fertilizers), manganese, zinc, and iron. 

The big three will show up pretty clearly in the N/P/K ratio (standing for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) while the other types of nutrients may need to be sought after a little more. 

Speaking of the big three and ratios, if you see fertilizer with the numbers 5-5-5, 6-6-6, or 8-3-9-2 (the 2 is an add-on and refers to magnesium), you can safely bet that you’re purchasing the right type of fertilizer. 

If you are having troubles with your tree even after fertilizing, it could be a pest issue. Check out this article on 9 Different Animals And Insects That Live In Trees.

This Dr. Earth Natural Wonder Organic Fruit Tree Fertilizer is a great option, with an NPK of 5-5-2, it is a well-balanced fertilizer with extra emphasis on stimulating healthy root development. 

Ways To Use Mangos From Your Mango Tree

So, now that you know how to plant, grow, and sustain a mango tree, what can you do with the fruit? There are so many dishes to make with mango that you won’t even know where to start!

Mango Sticky Rice

This Thai classic is a favorite among locations, served as a slightly sweet dessert for those who prefer the flavors of this fruit more than a dish completely lost to the sugar content. 

If you’re looking to get kids to eat more fruit, this could be a fun start– add in some blueberries along with the sticky rice and condensed milk for a fun yet healthier dessert dish.

This warm and filling dish can be eaten at any time of year, warm or cold!

Mango Popsicles

On a similar note, if you’re looking to reap some benefits of mango without all the processing that you’ll find in store-bought popsicles, buy some mangoes and create your own!

Be sure to have a bit of lime juice, some honey for sweetness, and fresh water on hand to blend with your mango chunks. You’ll have a refreshing summer treat in the time it takes to freeze (though popsicles also pair well with a relaxing day at home, staying out of the winter cold- no judgment here!)

Mango Salsa

Looking for a fresh way to use all that produce you bought for the holiday gatherings? Whip up a quick and easy mango salsa using some peppers, onions, mangoes, tomatoes, lime juice, and whatever else you have sitting around the kitchen. 

Use as a dip with some chips or chop the veggies into larger chunks and eat it as a salad. You’ll love this dish and all of the crisp, fresh flavors that are mixed in.

Salmon With Mango Sauce

Bake some salmon and use mango salsa, or any sort of version you concoct, to top it off. You can balance the crispy edges of the fish with the softer, lighter pieces of mango to create a meal that feels as delightful to eat as it does healthy to prepare.

Shrimp Tacos With Mango Salsa

On the note of using a sauce or salsa, why stop at chips and salmon? Let’s talk tacos!

Make some shrimp tacos ( white fish tacos pair well, too) and add some purple cabbage, a spicy sauce, and mango salsa on top. This combination of textures and flavors combines to make the perfect lunch that feels balanced yet yummy.

Mango Lassi

The University of Southern California notes that a mango lassi recipe can provide 39% of the daily calcium recommendation in just a little drink. 

This creamy yogurt drink originates in India, home to the oldest mango tree currently producing fruit as well as one of the biggest consumers of mango in the world. 

Combine mango pulp, yogurt, and a dash of carbonated water with a few other ingredients to easily re-create this healthy yet tasty treat.

Mango Fruit Salad

Why go for a regular, boring fruit salad when you can add mango and elevate any version of a fruit salad immediately? 

Combine some apples, grapes, mango, raspberry, strawberries, and blueberries to make a semi-tropical fusion fruit salad that takes ‘regular’ and spins it on its head. 

The taste is great but the antioxidants and vitamins that these salad packs are more than enough reason to give this dish a try.

Mango Chutney

Another Indian dish, chutney is a gluten-free savory condiment that can be used with a whole spread of different foods. 

Mango chutney in particular is rich in vitamins A, B, and C, along with other antioxidants and heart-healthy factors.

This is also, like most other mango dishes, a great way to get some extra iron in your diet when needed. 

Mango Sorbet

Finally, one more sweet dessert dish that is easy to make, has a great taste and will leave you feeling like your final course didn’t go to waste. 

This light relative of ice cream is great after a heavier meal when you want something else, without feeling much fuller.

Wrapping Up!

Well, that’s all we’ve got for now.

If the bad pun didn’t scare you away, feel free to check out some more pieces on more trees here anytime!

Remember these important facts about mangoes as a fruit, the lifespan of the trees, how to grow them, and more!

If you ever forget, just pop back over to this piece for a refresher. We like to do all the deep-diving for information so that you don’t have to you’re welcome!

If you are ever are interested in mango trees and how their roots work, you can check out this article on the 6 Best Fruit Trees That Have Shallow Roots.

Also, keep some of these recipe ideas in mind- they might come in handy in a few years when your tree is producing plenty of mangoes and you’re trying to keep some new dishes in the rotation.

Thank you for taking the time to read, I hope you learned lots of new information about mangoes and their trees. We invite you to stop back sometime and check out a little more. 

Remember, we are always here to help you along your tree journey. 

References

Boudon, F., Persello, S., Grechi, I., Marquier, A., Soria, C., Fournier, C., … & Normand, F. (2018, August). Assessing the role of aging and light availability in leaf mortality in the mango tree. In XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: International Symposium on Cultivars, Rootstocks and Management Systems of 1281 (pp. 601-608).

Wall‐Medrano, A., Olivas‐Aguirre, F. J., Ayala‐Zavala, J. F., Domínguez‐Avila, J. A., Gonzalez‐Aguilar, G. A., Herrera‐Cazares, L. A., & Gaytan‐Martinez, M. (2020). Health Benefits of Mango By‐products. Food Wastes and By‐products: Nutraceutical and Health Potential, 159-191.

Boudon, F., Persello, S., Grechi, I., Marquier, A., Soria, C., Fournier, C., … & Normand, F. (2018, August). Assessing the role of ageing and light availability in leaf mortality in the mango tree. In XXX International Horticultural Congress IHC2018: International Symposium on Cultivars, Rootstocks and Management Systems of 1281 (pp. 601-608).

The Japanese blueberry tree is a gorgeous evergreen tree native to Japan and China that has gained a lot of popularity in countries across the world, especially in the United States. While they are well-liked and very hardy, they still come with their own set of potential problems. 

The most common issues with Japanese blueberry trees are leaf rust, chlorosis, sunburn, pest infestation, and sooty mold. Prevent these issues by limiting pruning to the end of February and mid-March, which keeps the tree branches safe from issues that typically happen during warm weather.

Reading the rest of this article will prepare you for the various problems that you might have with your Japanese blueberry tree. Thankfully the tree is generally disease-resistant, but it can still come into trouble if overwatered or not given enough sun.

Why Do People Love The Japanese Blueberry Tree?

Japanese blueberry trees are very beautiful and beneficial additions to your yard. They can grow up to 30 feet wide and 40 feet tall but can be pruned into many different shapes. Their leaves are a rich, deep green that occasionally turns red before falling. They bloom the prettiest white flowers during spring.

These trees are attractive to birds and butterflies, which makes them pleasant additions to the yard for more than just you. 

The best part about the Japanese blueberry tree is how easy it is to take care of. They require no maintenance if you plant them in the right conditions (discussed below). However, many people prune and fertilize the tree to maximize its beauty’s potential. 

People also like them because it’s hard for them to catch a disease, but it is possible. The most frequent ailment you’ll see on the blueberry tree is sooty mold, which I’ll talk about later. 

Prime Environment Japanese Blueberries

Japanese blueberry trees are generally very hardy and can withstand drought once they are established. However, they won’t reach their maximum potential unless you put them in the right place with the right soil and conditions. 

Japanese blueberry trees should be planted in zones 8 to 11. They enjoy a full sun location and soil that is well-drained and rich in nutrients.  

If you have a Japanese blueberry tree, you should water it once a week during the summer months, and twice a week if it is extremely hot. The tree should get 15 to 20 gallons of water each week during its first two growing seasons. You want the root system to become fully established during this time. During its third growing season, you can begin watering it as needed. Don’t allow any standing water to form near the tree. 

Experts suggest fertilizing your tree three times a year, in spring, summer, and fall. There are several fertilizers available, but I recommend Jobe’s 01660 Fertilizer Spikes Tree & Shrubs because they release fertilizer slowly into the soil so it doesn’t overwhelm the tree. Place these spikes along the dripline, one per every three feet of height of the tree. 

Problems That Can Arise With Japanese Blueberry Trees 

You have spent so much precious time and money on maintaining your beautiful blueberry tree that it is no wonder why you’ve become frustrated if you experience a problem with it. 

Luckily, Japanese blueberry trees are quite hardy and relatively disease-resistant. Their problems are few, but they require care to keep these problems at bay. If you have noticed any of the issues below, don’t worry, we can fix them! 

Leaf Rust 

Normally, the leaves of the Japanese blueberry tree will fall after 2-3 years and be replaced by new leaves. The tree naturally sheds a lot of leaves and berries, but there is a problem if it is excessive and the branches are starting to become bare.  

First things first, look at the color of the leaves that have fallen. Do they have reddish-brown spots? If so, that may be leaf rust. Read on further to figure out what to do if you’re dealing with leaf rust.  

A lot of leaves will fall off if the tree does not have good enough drainage or it is not getting enough nutrients. If you notice standing water near your tree or hard, compacted soil, you probably have poor soil drainage. If you haven’t fertilized your tree since planting it, it may be lacking nutrients. 

To improve the soil drainage around your tree, start by mixing compost into the soil. It will create more air pockets for water to drain. You should add 3-4 inches of compost every year to greatly improve drainage. 

Apply a fertilizer every spring, summer, and fall to keep strong leaves growing and your tree nourished. This will create the best possible environment for it to grow full and tall. 

Tree Tops Have Begun Dying (Sunburn)

If you notice the top of your blueberry tree has started to die off leaving bare branches sticking out above the leaves, there are two reasons why this has happened. 

Japanese blueberry trees are thin-barked, so they are prone to sunburn. The part of the tree that is sunburned will die and stop sending nutrients to the leaves and branches above it. You can usually see where the damage has occurred by looking at the tree trunk right below the dying area. 

You will notice sunburn on the side that gets the most sun by its discolored bark. This happens because the top of the tree wasn’t shaded enough by the canopy. Cut off the dead branches during winter and put a burlap sack over the top of the tree to shade it until new growth appears. 

Another reason the tops of your blueberry tree are bare is an invasion of borers. Borers are wood-chewing insects that burrow into tree trunks and feed on the inner layers. They are usually beetle or caterpillar larvae. If they bore into your blueberry tree, they may have caused damage to the trunk, which means the top of the tree has been cut off from water. 

Check for this type of damage by inspecting the trunk just below the bare branches. The bark will come off easily, especially if it’s facing the most sunlight. The borers will have burrowed right underneath the bark. 

You can’t reverse the damage caused by borers, but you can apply insecticide to the tree’s soil once a year to keep them from coming back. Prune back the dead parts of the treetop during winter and be careful to leave proper canopy shade to the living branches below.  

Anytime you are pruning off the dead parts of the top of the blueberry tree, you want to keep the exposed branches from getting sunburned. Like I said before, you can put burlap sacks over the tops of the tree to provide shade. You can also paint diluted latex paint over the exposed tree branches to lower the surface temperature and allow for new growth. 

The Tree Canopy Is Thinning 

Excessive shedding of leaves is a cause of concern for your blueberry tree. You’re frustrated at the canopy thinning in your Japanese blueberry tree, but you don’t know what caused it. 

There are a couple of reasons that may explain why the canopy is thinning on your tree. The first reason could be that your tree is not getting enough water. If you’re in a desert area or somewhere with excessive heat, be very careful to water your blueberry tree often! 

If your tree isn’t getting enough water, the leaves will thin out and the inner canopy will be exposed to the sun. Like I said before, Japanese blueberry trees can get sunburned. Taking special care to water the tree enough so it doesn’t get scorched is important if you want to have this type of tree in a hot and dry climate. 

Another possible reason the canopy is thinning is that the areas that are becoming bare are not getting enough sunlight. Japanese blueberry trees will only thrive if they are getting enough sunlight, so the areas that don’t will suffer. This happens a lot when they are planted up against a fence. 

If your blueberry tree is getting enough sun and water and it still is losing a lot of leaves, then you might have other trees or Japanese blueberry trees too close to it. If the tree’s roots are competing for resources, then it might not be getting enough nutrients to keep the leaves going. 

Iron-Deficiency Chlorosis 

Chlorosis occurs in a Japanese blueberry tree when the soil doesn’t have enough iron in it or the soil’s pH levels are too high. If it is severe and combined with dry weather, then the leaves can be seriously scorched. 

Generally, the soil will have enough iron in it. However, if the soil doesn’t have a pH level higher than 6.5, it won’t be able to absorb the necessary iron. Iron is needed for the leaves to produce chlorophyll, so the first thing you’ll notice with this disease is that leaves are lightening in color and turning yellow. If it becomes severe, the yellowing leaves will fall off and branches may die back. 

Factors that can make the chlorosis worse on your blueberry tree are overwatering, soil salinity, phosphorous content, concentrations of zinc, magnesium, and copper in the soil, soil temperature, and root damage. 

The first thing you should do if you suspect chlorosis is to test the soil’s pH level. Japanese blueberry trees prefer soil that has a pH level between 6.1 and 7.3. If the pH level is too high, you know you’re dealing with chlorosis. 

As a quick fix, you can use a foliar iron spray to speed up the process of healing your blueberry tree. Try using a chelated liquid iron spray like Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron to get quick results on your blueberry leaves. Apply it directly on the leaves and you’ll see results within a couple of days.  

The foliar spray will only provide nutrients to the leaves themselves and doesn’t do anything to correct the problem in the soil that started the chlorosis in the first place, so only use it as a spot treatment. 

To fix the soil, create a mixture of equal parts ferrous sulfate and elemental sulfur. I highly suggest using Monterey LG7115 Dr. Soil Acidifier Granules for this job. Add 1 cup of the mixture to the soil of your Japanese blueberry tree and water it thoroughly (do not overwater!) to reach all of the tree’s roots. 

The foliar spray will have an almost immediate effect on the leaves, but don’t expect the entire tree to recover from chlorosis instantly. You will notice the changes in the next growing season. 

Sooty Tree Mold Caused By Pests 

Sooty mold, also known as black silt, is one of the very few diseases that can affect a Japanese blueberry tree. You’ll recognize it by the ugly black shadows and patches it creates on leaves, almost as if it were covered by the ash of a nearby campfire.

Luckily, sooty mold is usually harmless to your tree, but it can make the tree unpleasant to look at if too much of the black mold builds upon the leaves. The buildup can block the photosynthesis process too, which will turn some of the leaves yellow. 

If you want to do more research on what pests could be living/damaging your trees, you should check out this article on 9 Different Animals And Insects That Live In Trees.

Sooty mold can only grow on honeydew, which is the waste left by aphids, scales, or other insects feeding on your Japanese blueberry tree or any plants near it. Bees or yellow jackets buzzing around your tree is a sign that there is a lot of honeydew on it. 

You can get rid of some of the mold temporarily by spraying your tree’s leaves off with the garden hose. This doesn’t solve the pest problem that created the honeydew in the first place, so I recommend using neem oil, specifically Verdana USDA Organic Cold Pressed Neem Oil, to take them out and keep honeydew from continuing to form on the tree. 

Leaf Rust Discoloring Leaves 

The last common problem that Japanese blueberry trees experience is leaf rust. Leaf rust is caused by the fungus Naohidemyces vaccinii. Younger leaves are more vulnerable to this fungus and older leaves are more resistant. This fungus will grow faster in warmer weather, so it is more detrimental to Japanese blueberry trees in warmer climates. 

According to Michigan State University, you will notice leaf rust by the yellow spots that grow on the leaves in mid-season that turn brownish-red as time goes on. The leaves will eventually fall off. 

Luckily, the disease is not fatal to the tree. It is annoying, however, because it can ruin the beauty of your tree by causing leaf loss and stunting new bloom growth in the next spring. 

The ailment can grow on your tree fast. The fungus can grow on leaves after 48 hours of wetness. Because of this, you should only water your Japanese blueberry tree at the soil line without getting any of the leaves wet. Avoid overwatering as well. 

The first thing you should do if you notice leaf rust is to apply a fungicide to stop the spread and save the rest of your leaves. I suggest using Bonide 811 Copper 4E Fungicide on the leaves to keep any more from getting affected.  

Rake up any fallen leaves beneath the tree and burn them (if your area allows it). Doing this will keep the fungus from being spread by humans, animals, air, or water.  

Later on, in the season, some of the infected leaves will grow telia on it, which is a fungal structure that lets the fungus stay alive during the winter and reinfect again in the spring. That’s why it’s important to rake up the fallen leaves and destroy them. 

Wrapping Up 

Good maintenance of your Japanese blueberry tree will give it the best chance of flourishing into a gorgeous tree, shrub, or topiary, depending on your tastes. Its versatility and attractiveness make it a highly sought-after tree by those who have discovered it. 

If you do decide to add this tree to your yard, make sure to give it the best chance of survival from the moment of planting. You can do this by choosing somewhere with good air circulation, full sun, and well-draining soil.  

If you’re interested in growing other trees that can bear beautiful fruit, consider reading this blog on 6 Of The Best Fruit Trees That Have Shallow Roots.

If you have a Japanese blueberry tree, research to find out the best living conditions for it. Even though they are hardy plants, these trees are beautiful when they have flourished. Don’t waste your money with a sad blueberry tree when you could have a healthy and thriving one that compliments your yard!a

References

“Elaeocarpus Decipiens.” North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, NC State.  

Koenig, Rich, and Mike Kuhns. “Control of Iron Chlorosis in Ornamental and Crop Plants.” Cooperative Extension, Utah State University, June 2010. 

Schilder, Annemiek. “Beware of Blueberry Leaf Rust.” MSU Extension, Michigan State University, 20 Sept. 2018.