Trees provide excellent shade and a wonderful centrepiece to your landscaping. A mature tree requires little maintenance and can thrive easily around your property in Cambridge. There are, however, several ways you could harm a tree, particularly when it’s still young. Find out five ways you may be harming your trees and how Martin’s Tree Service can provide professional tree trimming in Cambridge.
1. Over-Mulching Your Trees
Mulch is a great way to protect against competing weeds and other plants around your tree. It also creates a stylish bed that spruces up your landscaping. It’s a good idea to mulch around your trees, but there are a few reasons why this may be harming your trees.
First, mulch close to the trunk of your tree can cause decay. A large pile of mulch creates a significant amount of moisture, which can decay the bark around your tree and create an unsafe foundation.
Second, over-mulching the area around your tree can choke tree root flare-ups. Keep mulch away from the bark of your tree, but don’t mulch too far out around your tree either.
2. Staking or Girdling Your Trees
Stakes and girdles are both designed to protect your tree, but they both can easily cause harm. Staking a tree means using ropes and stakes to support a tree. This is mostly done for aesthetic reasons since it prevents a tree from growing crooked. Temporary staking with appropriate ropes can be helpful, but you can harm your tree if the rope is too right or you stake your tree for too long.
Girdling is a process that attempts to protect the base of your tree using a plastic wrap. Unfortunately, trees need to breathe and be exposed to air, even at the base of the trunk. Consider using mulch or putting a fence at a safe distance from your tree to avoid harming it.
3. Nailing Objects on Your Trees
Trees may appear to be a convenient place to install signs, bird feeders and other objects. If you safely drill or nail objects into a mature tree, then it may not cause serious damage. It’s best to avoid this, however, because it can increase the risk of a disease or infestation. Discuss your drilling or nailing ideas with our local tree service team to determine whether it’s a safe idea or best to avoid.
4. Using Pesticides or Herbicides
Pests, weeds and diseases can cause serious damage to your trees. You want your trees, old or young, to survive, so it’s understandable that you may reach for pesticides or herbicides.
These powerful products are best used sparingly and by a professional team. Trees can become seriously injured when you use too much pesticide or herbicide. These products can also pose health risks to your family and pets. Work with our team to discuss the pest or weed issue and find safer ways to deal with the issue.
5. Attempting DIY Tree Care
Tree trimming and other tree care services are essential for a thriving, healthy tree. These tasks may seem easy with a young tree but become increasingly more dangerous. Don’t attempt to trim large branches or take on other tree care tasks on your own. Failure to properly perform these steps can seriously harm your tree. They can also cause falling branches to damage your property or injure you.
At Martin’s Tree Service, we’re qualified and experienced at tree trimming in Cambridge. Contact us to learn more about professional tree care or to schedule a service at your home. Don’t let any of these five issues harm your trees, but care for them to enjoy a beautiful yard and excellent shade for generations to come.
Steve Martin
