Having beautiful trees in the garden is one of the joys of home ownership. Trees give us so much – useful shade, avoiding flooding from run-off and they look amazing. However, trees can be vulnerable to numerous natural threats, making them weak and even resulting in their early demise. These are some of the most common dangers to our beloved trees:
Insects
A myriad of bugs can cause major problems to the trees in our gardens. A tree can look perfectly healthy, while being secretly infested by insects such as ants or beetles. The bugs burrow into the tree’s bark, lay eggs and lead to a weakening of the root system. When trees become weak, they can become at risk of falling and damaging property. If you have a tree that seems in a precarious situation, contact a Poole Tree Surgeon at kieranboylandtreeservices.com
Disease
Just like a human can contract a disease, so can a tree. The problem can be exacerbated if the tree is also growing in less than favourable conditions. To avoid disease, you must ensure that the soil in your garden has adequate circulation of air, nutrients, light and water. If these optimum conditions are not present, issues can arise like fungi, rot and bacteria. These diseases can cause weakened roots and leaf infection, while also making the tree more vulnerable to an infestation from pests.
A lack of nutrients
A further common problem is a lack of nutrients and this becomes obvious in several ways. There can be a discolouration of the foliage, a change in leaf size and shape and restricted growth. Before treating the tree with fertiliser, take a look at the soil to see if this is the cause of the problem. If a tree is lacking in just one nutrient, then only this needs to be added.
Invasive plant species
Many gardeners crave a vibrant and varied garden design, full of interesting colours and species. However, unless you know exactly what you’re doing, you could inadvertently be introducing a damaging species into your own back garden. Some flowers and plants can cause havoc on the biodiversity of your garden, even endangering local species in more serious cases.
Damage from accidents
A tree’s health can be adversely affected by an injury caused from an external source. Perhaps the bark has been damaged by a lawnmower, strimmer or animals gnawing on the bark, for example. Storms can also cause damage to tree limbs.
Compacted soil
Roots need space to grow and this is crucial to the health of a tree. If you are unlucky enough to have clay soil or hard soil that’s compacted, it can be tough to keep trees thriving. Newer housing estates often experience this issue, as builders use construction soil full of debris. If the roots don’t have enough space to grow, they can be crushed and unable to take in enough water or nutrients form the soil.
