Top Five Mistakes when taking care of your tree.
1. Watering
- Under watering in the hot summer months see more on water instructions.
- Overwatering in the cooler months
2. Grade Changes
Adding as little as two inches of soil over a tree's root zone can lead to death from oxygen deficiency. Almost all of a tree's feeder roots are in the top twelve inches of soil; the top six to eight inches for some species, such as Oaks, and shallow-rooted species are especially susceptible to this type of damage. Placing soil around a tree to make a raised flowerbed is a slow but sure way to damage or kill the tree.3. Herbicides
Broadleaf weed killers can also kill trees. They should be used with extreme caution. The same caution applies to weed-and-feed fertilizers.4. Improper Pruning
When pruning, never leave stubs, these are an invitation to insects and disease. Trouble starts when the stubs begin to rot and the rot moves into larger limbs or the trunk. Always remove a limb back to its point of origin – the trunk or another limb. Cut just outside the bark "collar" at the base of the limb. And remember, there is never any reason to "top" a tree. This practice weakens the tree, destroys its natural shape, leads to weak and unsightly new growth that can break in high winds, and severely shortens the tree's life.5. Mechanical Injury
Many trees, especially young ones, are damaged by the careless use of lawn mowers and weed trimmers. Cutting through the protective bark and into the cambium layer beneath the bark, interferes with the movement of water and nutrients and seriously weakens the tree. The damaged area also provides entry for insects and diseases.If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to consult with your sales associate.