by azhadminKM

By Danielle Green, Director of Gardens & Grounds, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a special place. Within these 45 acres in the heart of Naples are living reminders of the history of this property and its evolution from a personal garden of Dr. Henry Nehrling to the world class zoological garden that it is today. Caring for the historic specimen trees that we have on the property requires a plan that includes inspection and routine plant health care. As part of our plant health care, we perform annual deep root fertilization on more than 30 specimen trees around the Zoo. 

Deep root fertilization is a process where a specially formulated nutrient solution is injected into the root zone (area under the canopy) of trees. The nutrients are injected under pressure which helps aerate and provide oxygen to the root system. The soil injection begins just below the surface and goes to a depth of up to 12 inches beneath the soil. Injection sites are placed two feet apart in a grid pattern under the canopy area and beyond the drip line of the tree. Our tree-care partner, Davey Tree, uses a patented product (Arbor Green PRO) designed by the Davey Institute to mimic the natural availability of nutrients in the forest environment. This ensures that these gentle giants get the nutrients required for healthy growth and development. Just a few benefits of these nutrients include increased root growth, improved pest and disease resistance, greener foliage, and better drought resistance.

Many of our “gentle giants” at Naples Zoo are the largest of their species found in Naples. These include two Ficus altissima or lofty fig found on Bear Loop, the Pterocarpus macrocarpus or Burmese rosewood near the Caribbean Gardens buildings, Delonix regia or royal poinciana in Bear Loop playground, and at panther viewing area we have a Roystonea regia or royal palm that is nearly 100 years old! Other specimens to take notice of are the four Ceiba pentandra or kapok trees. Kapok trees are native to tropical America from Mexico to the Amazon basin and are also called silk-cotton trees. Kapok flowers open at night and are pollinated by bats; the pods that form later can produce up to 200 seeds embedded within a silky, cotton-like, water-resistant fiber. This fiber was once used as stuffing material for life jackets and mattresses. The massive trunks are covered in thorns and can grow up to 10 feet in diameter. The oldest known Ceiba sp. trees are found in Miami and are 200 years old! Be sure to check out our signature icons at the 2017 AZH annual conference zoo day at Naples Zoo in September!