Trees in Your Yard
Nothing can provide a more striking and beautifying addition to your yard than the addition of one or more trees. Besides the aesthetic value, the value of your property in dollars and cents will also rise exponentially to the low cost of buying and planting trees. In addition, the habitat provided for birds, and the summer shade that will be provided, are substantial benefits. In addition, it has been said that “The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.” (U.S. Department of Agriculture).
In order to ensure the long and healthy lives of your trees, there are many dos and don'ts than must be remembered.
The topping off of trees is a prime example of misplaced logic in the care of trees, as a topped tree is a disfigured tree and could case it serious harm in several respects. It causes the tree's root ratio to become imbalanced, affecting the tree's nutrition. The lack of small branches and leaves at the top can cause scalding from the direct sunlight. Weak branches and suckers can develop from the area that has been pruned. The site of the topping may have a difficult time forming a protective callus, leaving the tree vulnerable to insects and disease.
Care must be taken to avoid injuring your trees with lawn mowers, edge trimmers, and other such equipment. The best practice is not let sod grow up to the base of your trees, but rather have a buffer zone of mulch around your trees.
Compacted soil near your trees can can injury to the root systems. Heavy materials, equipment, even substantial ...
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