Incorrect tree care is one of the most preventable causes of long-term tree failure, and it is usually done with good intentions rather than neglect. Understanding why these common practices cause harm is the first step toward avoiding them.
Topping and over-lifting
Topping, the practice of cutting large limbs back to stubs to reduce a tree's height, promotes weak, poorly attached regrowth that is far more likely to fail than the limbs it replaced. Over-lifting, removing too many lower structural limbs at once, has a similar effect: both practices compromise a tree's natural structure and reduce its ability to withstand wind or load stress for years afterward.
Girdling roots and improper planting
Roots that circle back around a tree's trunk instead of growing outward, often the result of a tree left too long in a nursery container before planting, can slowly strangle the tree as both grow in diameter. Improper planting depth compounds the problem, burying the root flare and creating conditions for decay right at the base of the trunk.
Volcano mulching
Piling mulch up against the trunk in a cone shape, sometimes called volcano mulching, is a common well-meaning mistake that traps moisture against the bark, introduces decay, and creates an entry point for pests. Mulch should be pulled back a few inches from the trunk and kept in a flat ring around the tree instead.
What to do
If a tree in your yard has been topped in the past, has mulch piled against its base, or you are unsure whether a previous planting was done correctly, these are worth having a certified arborist take a look at. ArborManagers provides tree risk assessments throughout Central Florida. Call us at (352) 414-2454 or request a consultation online.