Tree Care
Did you know even well-established old trees still need care to ensure longevity? With external pressures from climate change and invasive species, trees are more susceptible to diseases and shorter lifespans. However, with proper care and watching out for signs of poor health, you can reduce or even stop some external pressures trees face on your property.
Below are helpful tips to avoid damaging your trees.
Do not:
Nail or attach items to a tree: damages the bark and exposes the tree to disease.
Damage roots and trunks of trees with lawn equipment.
Spray herbicides near the tree (or anywhere if possible): can poison the tree.
Cut through roots when digging near a tree: tree can become infected and/or destabilized and fall.
Ignore pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies.
Ignore signs of poor health
Signs of poor health
Foliage color not typical compared to similar species
Large bare spots in the canopy
Misshapen leaves
Fungus growing from the trunk
Lots of new shoots from the base of the tree
Large dead branches
Bark falling off
Trunk cavities
Decayed areas
Vertical cracks on the trunk
Buckling of the soil near the base of the tree
No leaves on the tree during the summer
Tree topping
When pruning, do not:
"Top" your tree to encourage new growth: reduces the amount of energy the tree receives and invites disease.
Leave stubs on the tree: promotes branch decay.
Leave crossing branches on the tree: they can rub against the bark and create wounds.
Cut large branches flush with the trunk: can increase decay.
Leave broken branches on the tree: encourages pests.
Coat pruning cuts with paint or sealer: inhibits proper wound closure.
When planting a tree do not:
Leave the trunk wrap on: encourages rot and hinders tree growth.
Leave tree stakes up until the wires girdle the trunk.
Pile mulch against the trunk: encourages rodent damage and bark rot.
Cover the soil with a plastic weed barrier: prevents water and nutrients from reaching the roots
Leave root ball twine, wire basket, or synthetic/treated burlap in place: prevents proper root growth.
Leave circling roots: strangles the tree as it grows.
Dig planting hole too narrow and not amending your soil correctly: discourages proper root spread.
Dig hole too deep: smothers the trunk and drowns the roots.
Plant close to your house or structures: reduces adequate growing space.
Drown the roots by over watering: leads to root rot.
Too much mulch!
Fun Fact!
In the wild trees support each other through an highly evolved, interconnected web of fungus roots (mycelium) that transmit signals and nutrients that aid one another and prevent disease. In areas where trees are few and far between, the trees are not able to rely on this network for support. However, by restoring native trees to such areas, this will, over the years, bring back this incredible social support network and in turn, reduce the need for additional tree care.
LEARN MORE:
- "White-tailed deer hugging a maple tree" by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region is marked with CC PDM 1.0
- "Topped tree and roof of Pavilion No 47.jpg" by Dmitry Ivanov is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
- "Too much mulch is never a good thing" by eXtension.org: Gardens, Lawns, and Landscapes is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0