If you love your trees, you will do anything that’s necessary to take good care of them. However, some of the things you think you’re doing to protect them or make them look better are actually doing the opposite. Some of these mistakes aren’t evident right away, and you might only notice the results when it’s too late. Spotting these mistakes can save your tree from disaster.
1. Excess Fertilization
Spreading too much fertilizer is a common tree care problem for many homeowners. Applying fertilizer to the soil around your tree will make it greener as well as enhance its growth. However, considering that fertilizer contains nitrogen, too much of it can cause leaves to turn yellow or brown and fall to the ground. It can also weaken the tree’s ability to soak in vital nutrients to sustain itself.
2. Pruning
Tree pruning is essential for growth; it creates air passages for your tree’s branches and removes any dangerous branches. Getting the when and where of it, however, is important because how you time your pruning can affect tree health one way or another.
Too much pruning will weaken your tree and cause fatal damage to its branches. That exposes your tree to pests, decay, and diseases. The best time to prune is just on the cusp of spring when trees are dormant and before buds start to appear. If your tree flowers during springtime, it can be pruned later in the season when their flowers fade, leading to increased flowering as summer approaches.
Fall, meanwhile, is the least ideal time given the fact that tree wounds can become infected due to of dead fungi spreading their spores during that time.
3. Improper Mulching
While mulching around your tree keeps the soil moist, you don’t want to do it too close to the trunk. Doing so can cause the trunk to rot, which could kill your tree over time.
Spread your mulch in a broad enough circle around your tree, leaving a few inches of space between the mulch and tree trunk. Failing to do so can block air passages and cause harmful fungi to grow. Wood mulch is a good recommendation as it is sturdy and discourages pests from coming around your tree. Mulching is necessary for water retention, soil temperature regulation, and reducing root stress. So, the mulching space you create allows those processes to be seamless.
4. Too Much (or Not Enough) Water
Watering a tree too often or not often enough can have a drastic impact. Regardless of tree size or the age of your tree, you need to water it with some regularity, especially if weather conditions are dry.
Excess watering can also deny a tree of oxygen, which can be found in gaps between soil particles. It puts undue stress on the tree, and that could trigger hazardous consequences. For more information, check out our article on signs that you’re overwatering your tree.
If you weren’t aware of these mistakes before and unsure how to counteract your measures, let Jackson Tree Services help you take care of your tree the right way. Get in touch today!