A beautiful home isn’t complete without great landscaping. The right mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers can really make a property stand out.
But sometimes the plants we choose can be a little finicky. Trees can especially be tricky, as they need the perfect mix of conditions to really thrive. Getting the right light, nutrients, and water can sometimes be a challenge. Add in wildlife and pests, and it only makes caring for your trees more difficult. Trimming your trees is only the first step in their care. You have to pay attention to all these other factors, too.
Are you worried about the trees in your yard? Let’s dive into some of the most common tree problems owners run into and how to avoid them.
Lack of Nutrients
One of the most common issues that keeps trees from thriving is a lack of nutrients. When trees are growing naturally in a forest, the soil they’re in is full of the nutrients it needs. Much of these nutrients come from decomposing leaves.
For most homeowners, keeping their yard in tip-top shape is an important part of home maintenance. This usually means raking up leaves and removing debris, along with keeping the grass healthy and bright. This takes away most of the nutrients trees need to grow.
Unfortunately, grass competes with trees for nutrients. In this competition, grass always wins. This is one of the reasons so many trees don’t survive in urban and suburban areas.
There’s an easy fix, though. And no, it isn’t to stop doing yard work.
To give trees all the nutrients they need, all you need to do is add fertilizer and mulch around your trees. The fertilizer is full of the right nutrients your trees need, while mulch will decompose over time and help to feed your tree. Giving your tree proper maintenance care will improve its chances of thriving, not just surviving.
Annoying Pests
Another very common issue that tree owners experience is pests. There are good bugs that can help your trees get the right nutrients. But there are also pests that can eat away at your trees or even kill them if the problem gets bad enough. Luckily, there are a few things that can help keep pests at bay.
It may come as a surprise to know that if your trees are already stressed by their growing conditions, it makes it more likely to attract pests. This is also true for old or weak trees.
To prevent pests, the first step to take is to check your tree’s growing conditions. Similar to the point mentioned above, this starts with the soil your tree is planted in. Additionally, make sure your tree is in a good location where it can get the right amount of sun and water.
If you’re still seeing pests, the next step would be treating your trees. There are a number of ways to do this. Your local landscaping and arbor companies should be able to give you advice for your particular issues.
Always make sure you check your trees regularly for pests. For the best chance of combating pest problems you need to catch the issue early on, before it’s expanded to the whole tree.
Damage From Wildlife and Landscaping
If you find your trees look damaged and sickly, it’s very possible that the cause is either wildlife or your landscaping tools. Local animals like deer can eat away at trees. When you do yard work, you may be hurting your tree trunks with lawn mowers or trimmers, too.
When you do yard work near your trees, be careful to give them space so that you don’t damage their trunks. You can also harm trees by mowing over exposed roots. Damage like this can hurt a tree’s ability to soak up water and nutrients properly.
Just like you should be checking for pests regularly, you should check for wildlife damage as well. This includes inspecting the trunk, bark, branches, and leaves of your trees. If you have a tree that’s being damaged often, you may want to fence it off to keep animals away.
About the author:
Carolyn Mitchell is a freelance writer and content strategist with a passion for home décor and maintenance. She can often be found re-painting and updating the furnishings in her home, and she is also a dedicated cat mom to two adorable kitties.
