Three Essential Tips For Protecting Your Property\’s Trees From Disease
Fungal diseases can wreak havoc on a tree population. As a property manager, the last thing you want to deal with is having to remove 20 or 30 infected trees from your properties. Protecting the trees from disease is a lot easier, and you can achieve that by adopting these three habits.
Have the trees pruned regularly
Don\’t wait until branches are falling left and right to make an appointment with a tree care service. Have your trees pruned each spring before the buds appear. Dead or dying branches are the most susceptible to infection, so having them removed helps keep your tree healthy. If your tree care professional notices any signs of infection, they can hopefully remove the affected branches before the infection has a chance to spread and threaten the tree\’s life.
Clean leaves up promptly
Especially if you manage a large community, staying on top of leaf cleanup can be a challenge. But it\’s essential to make this a priority in the fall, even if that means giving your landscaping team some overtime hours. Many species of fungi that infect trees release spores that spend the winter in fallen leaves. If those leaves are left in place too long, your tree may become infected. Never let leaves sit beneath the tree all winter. Rake them up weekly as they fall.
Mulch around your trees
The healthier your trees are, the better they\’ll be able to fight off infections. Applying wood mulch around the base of your trees helps boost their health in two ways. First, the mulch traps water in the soil, reducing the drought-related stress your trees experience. Second, the mulch slowly breaks down to provide the trees with an ongoing source of nutrients. Remember not to push the mulch too close to the tree\’s trunk, as this can trap moisture against the trunk and lead to rotting.
With proper pruning, mulching, and leaf cleanup, you can reduce your trees\’ risk of fungal infections. You can follow along on Facebook and Instagram, or you can contact us here if you have any questions.
