Top Tree Care Mistakes You Need to Avoid
Trees, with their majestic presence and myriad of environmental benefits, are an integral part of our ecosystem. They play a crucial role in capturing carbon, providing shelter, and securing wildlife, among other vital functions. Understanding their significance is the first step towards effective tree care.
Despite the invaluable role of trees, deforestation has been a pressing issue. Studies reveal that the world has lost approximately 42 hectares of land to deforestation since 1990 (Earth.org), and tree cover has decreased by 9.7% from 2001 to 2019 (Tree Nation). This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for responsible tree care and planting.
If you’re looking to plant trees, you should know how to care for them, what local laws and regulations surround your liability for trees within your property line, and what mistakes you should avoid to ensure that any new trees you plant or existing trees you care for are in good health and safe all year round.
Let’s take a look at some mistakes you need to avoid.
#1 Over-Pruning
While it might initially seem logical to cut back as much as possible to control growth, this can actually cause more damage than you’re trying to prevent. Overpruning trees affects their ability to photosynthesise and this can leave them vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Another mistake people often make is “topping”. As you might imagine, it’s essentially cutting off the top of a tree, which stresses the trees and leaves it prone to decay and structurally weak.
#2 Poor Pruning Technique
Tree pruning isn’t easy, and you can’t master it by watching a single YouTube video. Tee trimming matters, and doing it wrong can cause many problems. The best method is to cut the branch in the direction you want it to grow and to use protective techniques such as crown thinning, crown raising or crown reduction to get the best results.
#3 Ignoring Tree Planting Planning and Location
In some cases, your tree problems will start before the tree is even fully established. And this is down to not taking the time and care of the plan when you plant the tree, and where you plant it.
Mistakes in the planning stage can include
- Planting the wrong pieces in unsuitable soil
- Planting at the wrong time of year
- Planting too close to buildings
- Not considering watering needs
For example, a tree that thrives in moist soil will struggle to survive if it is planted in dry, compacted ground and vice versa. You need to understand proper tree care and planting guidelines to help your tree flourish, not struggle, and look its best year after year.
#4 Rushing Everything
Your tree needs a certain level of care and maintenance, and rushing or even neglecting this is not going to end well for you or your tree. Rushing the pruning process because it feels like a chore will lead to greater mistakes, damaging the tree. Rushing the planting process and not paying attention to the needs before planting will also yield poor results and a multitude of issues down the line. When it comes to effective tree care, you need to be slow, careful and considerate in your decision-making, and if you cannot afford the time and attention for your tree, then talk to an arborist who can help you.
