How to keep your garden's trees in good condition
Trees can serve as a wonderful focal point in a garden. They can also help to make your outdoor space feel more private and provide shade during the warmer months of the year. As such, if you're fortunate enough to have trees in your garden, it's worth taking good care of them. The level of effort you put into caring for them will have a direct impact on their appearance, stability and lifespan. Here are two things you can do to keep them in excellent condition for years to come.
Look after the roots
The roots of a tree play a hugely important role in its overall health. They deliver crucial nutrients and water to the branches and foliage and help to keep the tree structurally stable. As such, one of the most effective ways to maintain a healthy tree is to look after its roots.
There are several ways to do this. Firstly, If you have plans to carry out renovation work on the exterior of your property (for example, if you're building a swimming pool or a garage), set up a temporary protective barrier around the tree, to prevent construction equipment from being driven over the root area (the weight of heavy machinery can compact the soil and thus reduce or even completely cut off the air supply to the root system).
Secondly, if the tree is located close to where you usually park your car or bicycle, try to avoid driving or cycling close to the root system on your way to your parking space. Additionally, you should avoid regularly walking over the roots, as this can, over time, cause damage. Similarly, it's best to avoid carrying out any form of vigorous gardening activities near the tree, as disturbing the soil could potentially harm the roots that lie underneath it.
Take precautions to prevent the spread of disease
Like all living things, trees can develop diseases which can not only have a negative effect on their appearance but can also drastically reduce their lifespan. Given this, it's important to take precautions in order to keep your trees healthy and disease-free.
The two main causes of tree diseases are fungi and certain insect species. This is why your trees should be periodically sprayed with both insecticide and fungicide; doing this regularly will help to kill off any spores or insect larvae before they have a chance to harm the tree.
If you have several trees in your garden and one of them is showing signs of disease (for example, if the bark has begun to peel, or if the trunk has developed visible cavities), it is absolutely crucial to have it cut down immediately by a tree removal specialist. If you fail to do this, the disease will almost certainly spread to other trees in your garden.