3 Tree Care Myths And Misconceptions You Need To Know About
Posted on: 21 May 2015
If you're a homeowner and have trees on your property, it's your responsibility to take care of those trees. Most trees require relatively minimal levels of maintenance, including the occasional fertilizer feeding and pruning of branches. Still, there are some common myths and misconceptions regarding tree care that you should know about; this way, you can avoid making a mistake that results in having to remove a dead or diseased tree from your property, which can get quite expensive.
New Trees Benefit From Tree Wrap
Planting new trees on your property can be a great way to add curb appeal and shade to your outdoor living spaces. After you plant your new tree, you may be under the assumption that wrapping the trunk with tree wrap will help to protect it from insects and excessive temperature extremes. Unfortunately, this often isn't the case. Tree wrap generally isn't recommended for use on new trees because the material can be bored through by many insects, such as carpenter bees and ants. Furthermore, wrapping a newly planted tree could actually make it even more prone to temperature extremes.
Planting Deeper Results in Healthier Trees
For healthy tree growth, you want a nice, deep growth of the roots. However, contrary to what many homeowners believe, this isn't something that can be achieved simply by planting the tree deeper into the ground. In fact, the opposite effect can occur when you go this route because by planting trees deeper into the ground, you could be cutting off their water and oxygen supply. Instead, plant new trees at their recommended depths based on the tree type -- and no deeper.
Painting Over Decay Will Stop It
If you've got an existing tree on your property that seems to be decaying or has other signs of disease, such as flaking bark or discoloration, your tree may have an infection. A common myth that's been perpetuated is that you can stop the spread of tree infections and disease by painting over them. Unfortunately, this isn't true; in many cases, a tree that shows sign of disease will need to be professionally removed. Otherwise, you run the risk of the disease spreading to other nearby trees.
As you can see, there's more to taking care of the trees on your property than you may have originally thought. By being aware of the truths behind these misconceptions, you can better care for your trees. If you have specific questions about the care or removal of the trees on your property, it's often useful to contact an expert, like those at Hodgson's Expert Tree Service.
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