You Are Annoying Your Tree – See How
If you follow your child around when they are trying to walk, catching them every time that they fall, the one time that they fall without you around, it will be a bigger and potentially more dangerous fall. If you never let your teenager on the highway when they are learning how to drive, when they get there on their own for the first time, they are going to be putting themselves (and everyone else on the road) in danger. You cannot always do your husband’s laundry because if he has to do it on his own, he will be lost.
You cannot hover over everything and expect them to be able to take care of themselves when the time comes. This is a sad but true fact that extends from your family to your pets to your trees – yes, even your trees can be impacted by hover-parenting techniques.
How can you avoid doing that to your trees? Start with these tips:
4. Your Soil is Wrong
- Take soil to a professional for testing
- Make sure to balance out nutrition
- Testing is required every few years
Giving nutrients is one of the most basic ways we show anything or anyone that we really love them. From animals who are trying to make an impression on the apex predator to someone who is trying to impress on a first date, it is one of the most universal signs of kindness. You need to do the same thing to your trees. Most people who enjoy their trees overlook the fact that the soil might be killing them little by little.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the pH of your soil is one of the most important elements to consider – and for most home backyards, you want the pH to be about 6.5. This will support all of the important functions of your tree, including consuming nutrients, growing, repairing from bruises, and generating fruits if applicable.
3. You’ve Watered Them Too Much
- Leaves start to turn colors
- Tends to happen in the rainy season
- Allow soil to dry out at times
Sometimes too much of a good thing is definitely a bad thing. If you have sprayed your trees too much, you will see the following signs, according to Home Guides: “a loss of vigor, yellowing leaves, leaf scorch and water-soaked blisters on the stems and leaves. Dig down several inches into the tree’s root zone, in the area between the trunk and the edge of the tree’s canopy. The tree’s root zone typically extends out anywhere from 1.5 to 4 times the width of the canopy. Very moist soil at that depth suggests too much water. A sour smell indicates that the soil is oxygen-deprived. Also, any signs of mushrooms or algae around tree’s root zone can indicate a water-logged tree.”
If you see any of these signals, you need to scale back on the watering. In certain cases, if the watering was just in a short amount of time, you can just permit the dirt to dry out a bit. Nonetheless, if it is systemic overwatering, you should start to pull back over time to see what the appropriate amount of moisture is for your tree.
2. You’ve Pruned By Yourself
- Causes lasting devastation
- Hurts the likelihood of harvest or spring florals
- Your tools probably won’t be good enough
Think about when you want to tweeze your boyfriend’s eyebrows or when you try to explain to your girlfriend how she could be more efficient at the gym if she just runs a little bit faster – taking something into your own hands that should be in the hands of a professional can do some serious damage to your relationship. The same is true in regard to trees. By doing something like pruning, which should be managed by an expert, by yourself, you are setting yourself up for fights and problems.
What you do to your tree will influence its health and wellness long into the future. Tree Care Tips suggests that you should never trim more than 25% of your tree – but even 1% is too much if you do not know what you are doing. Remember that when you are pruning your tree, you are creating wounds in it and those wounds will need time to mend and in order to heal correctly, they need to be cut correctly. This means using the proper tools and the best techniques for tree pruning.
1. You Are Worrying About the Pests Too Much
- Sprays can be more destructive than the pests
- Some “bad pests” are actually good for the trees
- Nature tends to take care of itself
Many people worry about their trees and think that the first signs of pests signify that they need to do something before the pests bring the tree down. This isn’t always the situation. Sometimes, you have to sit back and really look at your tree to see if it is being affected. If you aren’t sure, you can always get ahold of a professional for his or her assessment.
According to ThoughtCo, “Insects that attack trees come in many sizes and shapes. The beetles consume leaf parts and inner bark; the aphids, leafminers, and moths defoliate; the borers consume wood; the gall-making wasps deform limbs and leaves. Not all insects will kill a tree, but the “killers” listed can be certain death when insect populations explode.”
So really, you have to be mindful and judicious when it comes to treating your tree. Sometimes, the solutions that you would use to destroy the pests or insects might do more damage. You also need to know that not all pests look like insects – birds and mammals can be harmful as well.
If you are looking for a tree care professional in Richmond, give Ridgeline Tree Service a call today at (804) 378-2900. We will help you to better understand your trees and how to handle any issues.
