Want Great Trees? Pay Attention To The Base
Everyone loves having healthy trees, and the branches, canopy shape, and leaves can indicate whether a tree is doing well. But the trunk and base are just as important. In fact, the ground around the tree and its roots plays more of a role in the health of the tree than you think. It's not just whether that ground is nutritious, but also whether there's anything on the ground that may determine the future health of the tree.
Leaf Litter
Leaf litter — basically, fallen leaves and general tree debris — is normal. You see it every fall, you see it after storms, and sometimes it just appears on its own, dragged over by someone's unsuspecting shoe. Too much leaf litter, however, or leaves that appear diseased, are bad signs. Too much leaf litter can hide pests and create an environment conducive to mold growth. Leaves that appear diseased signal, obviously, disease. If the tree itself is healthy and those leaves are from another tree, you need to remove those leaves and find out which tree needs treatment or removal. If you're not familiar with tree disease signs or don't have time to deal with it yourself, a contract with a landscape maintenance crew is something you need to look into.
Rotting Fruit
The sight of a fruit tree laden with apples or lemons and surrounded by fallen but unexpectedly perfect fruit is a common feature of advertising and art. It's not so pretty in real life, however, as that fallen fruit quickly begins to rot. It also attracts animals such as squirrels and opossums, which can then get into your garage, your home's vents, or your woodpile. While having a random opossum can be nice as they do eat bugs and generally don't have rabies, squirrels can be more problematic, and both can become nuisances if left uncontrolled. Rotting fruit needs to be cleaned up and composted.
Erosion Around Roots
When trees are well-established, their root systems are securely in the ground, helping to hold the trunk steady. But rain and wind can remove the soil around the roots, making the tree less stable and exposing too much of the roots to the elements. The roots can dry out and transfer fewer nutrients and less water to the rest of the tree. Maintaining a normal topsoil level and repairing wind or flood damage is essential for the health of the tree, and a landscaping maintenance crew can do this for you.
For more information about landscape maintenance tasks, contact a company such as Lopez Tree Service.