Tree Care Mistakes That Can Prove Costly in Evansville

If you own a tree or two in Evansville, you know how beautifully they lend a special touch to your garden and landscape. However, after many summer months of intense weather and extreme temperatures, it’s important that proper care is taken to ensure the health of your trees – failure to do so can lead to some costly repairs! In this blog post, we’ll discuss common mistakes made when caring for trees in Evansville and what you should be doing instead. So if you want to learn more about tree care in the area, keep reading!

Not Pruning Enough

When trees are given enough room to grow, they will often out-compete other trees in the area. This is why regular pruning is important – it allows you to keep the tree healthy by removing competition, and it can also increase the visual appeal of your landscape. However, not pruning enough can have costly consequences down the road. Not pruning leads to a lack of sun, structural imbalances, over-crowding and a weakened root system – all factors that can damage your tree’s health. Additionally, a lack of pruning can cause damage to other trees in your yard if volunteers (suckers) start popping up from the rootstock.

To avoid these problems and maximize the life of your trees, make sure you are regularly and correctly pruning them year-round.

Pruning Too Much

Pruning too much can be a costly mistake if the wrong size or type of pruning cut is used or if the wrong trees are pruned. If a tree is pruned too much, it will not be able to put out enough leaves to produce enough food for healthy growth and survival. Additionally, large cuts on small branches can make them vulnerable to breakage from weather, resulting in damage and damaged branches that have to be removed, leading to increased clean-up costs.

On younger trees, excessive pruning can stunt their growth, often eliminating any aesthetically pleasing form they may eventually have had. Excessive removal of live leaves removes precious food supplies and causes an overall weakening of the tree.

To avoid these costly errors, enlist the help of an experienced arborist in Evansville who knows the correct methods for pruning various species of trees.

Overwatering

Tree roots need oxygen to aid in the absorption of water and nutrients. Overwatering trees, particularly those planted in confined spaces such as a backyard, can provide inadequate oxygen to their root systems. This can lead to root rot, which can leave trees vulnerable to insect pests and diseases, as well as more shallow root systems leading to weak trees more prone to breaking under stress or extreme weather conditions.

To avoid overwatering, research the precise water requirements for your specific tree species and check if rain has adequately supplied moisture before manually watering your tree. Ensure that soil is well-drained when planting a tree and use mulch layer for extra hydration protection.

If your area gets violent thunderstorms or extreme winds which knock down trees on a regular basis it may be time to call a local certified arborist for advice on how best care for your trees going forward:

• Research the precise water requirements for your specific tree species.
• Check if rain has adequately supplied moisture before manually watering your tree.
• Ensure that soil is well-drained when planting a tree.
• Use mulch layer for extra hydration protection.
• Call a local certified arborist for advice on how best care for your trees going forward.

Ignoring Symptoms

When it comes to tree care, many homeowners tend to ignore the signs of trouble, choosing to put off action until it may be too late. Unfortunately, certain conditions can worsen rapidly if not addressed in a timely manner. Cracks, cavities and missing bark can all be signs that your tree has a serious problem. If you see evidence of these on your trees, you should contact an arborist right away to assess the situation and determine what treatments are necessary. Keep in mind that addressing a problem before it becomes serious is much more cost-effective than waiting until the damage is severe.

Other symptoms to watch out for include wilting leaves or discolored foliage, swollen areas along major limbs or trunks, mushrooms growing at the base of a tree or heavy branch drooping over other branches. If you see any of these signs, don’t hesitate to seek help from an arborist promptly.

Not Mulching Properly

Mulching is essential for any tree that grows in the Evansville area, providing a layer of insulation to keep the roots of the tree cool during even the hottest summers. If mulch is piled too deeply around a tree, it can smother roots and kill trees. Too little or unbalanced mulching places trees in danger of heat stress or dieback.

Mulching should be limited to no more than 2-4 inches in depth, extending beyond and away from the spread of the branches but not too close to them. It’s also important to use organic 2-4 inch mulch rather than inorganic materials such as gravel or stones, as this will allow moisture and nutrients to penetrate to protect your tree’s root system.

Not Identifying and Treating Diseases and Pests

Tree diseases can be caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses that gradually weaken the tree, often by restricting the amount of water and nutrients that reach the roots. They can also spread to other nearby trees if they are not treated properly. A single infection may become costly due to costly treatments or potential property damage when the tree is compromised.

Common diseases that affect trees in Evansville are Dutch Elm disease, Sudden Oak Death Syndrome and Phytophthora ramorum.

Pests such as aphids, root borers, caterpillars and bark beetles can be especially destructive to young, newly planted trees as well as older specimens. Without a proper treatment plan they can cause lasting damage to wooden structures and foliage alike. When it comes to defending against pests, many local municipalities have specific regulations on product application frequency and types available for use in their area – be sure you are up-to-date on all rules before purchasing any materials or services from a professional tree service specialist in Evansville!

Being Careless With the Root System

When planting, or transplanting a tree to Evansville, it is important that you are very careful with the root system. If the root system is disrupted during planting, the branch structure and crown shape can be negatively impacted. This can cause the tree to experience stunted growth or even death.

It is important to take special care when digging up a tree for transplanting by making sure an adequate amount of soil and roots are included in order to preserve its health and stability. Be mindful of surrounding roads and driveways when considering your plantings as lack of consideration may lead to abrasive damage inflicted upon the root system over time.

Maintain proper moisture levels in surrounding soil by covering root systems with appropriate amounts of organic mulch so as not to impede growth or create hazardous conditions due to mold and fungi buildup.

Not Removing Dead or Dying Trees

Dead or dying trees can be an eyesore and an unnecessary safety hazard. Dead or dying branches that are infected with a fungus or infested with insects are dangerous to any person or property within reach. It’s important to periodically inspect your trees for signs of death, decay, and disease and take action as soon as possible if any of these issues arise. Failure to remove such trees can lead to further complications including:

• Property Damage: Trees that are weakened by age, disease, or insect infestation often cannot withstand the weight and force of strong winds. This can cause serious damage to homes, other structures and property
• Liability: Legal action may be taken against homeowners who fail to remove hazardous dead or dying trees from their property in a timely manner
• Sickness: Insects such as mosquitos may breed in standing water pools which collect in the hollowed out trunks of dead or dying trees, making them a vector for diseases
• Inconvenience: Dead tree limbs can fall on power lines, blocking roads and forcing local utility providers shut down roads while they repair the damage.

For these reasons, it’s important that all dead or dying trees be properly removed from yards and replaced with new ones as soon as possible.

Conclusion

In conclusion, proper tree care is essential in maintaining a healthy and thriving landscape in Evansville. Homeowners should be aware of the common mistakes they can make when caring for their trees, as these could result in costly damages and potentially dangerous situations. Following the best practices outlined in this article can help you to have healthy and secure trees year-round.

Talk to your local arborist if you have any additional questions or concerns about how to properly take care of your trees.