Trees Biggest Enemy

Keep in mind that the "arteries" of your tree is just below the outer bark called the phloem and xylem. If this is damaged it is like your artery system being damaged.

So the biggest enemy your tree faces is devices that can damage those arteries.

Who is the biggest Enemy?

Unfortunately it is us.

Lawn Mowers and Weed Eaters do more damage to trees than any other one item in the Tree World.

It's not really our fault in that we are trying to do a good job, getting the grass mowed down, that is growing up around the tree. But in reality that grass would not be there in nature, the tree leaves and needles would blanket the area and choke out any other grass or weed. We remove that natural mulch.

The other problem is we don't want grass to build up a thatch layer around the trunk flare and suffocate that cell tissue.

AND, we don't want the grass to compete with the tree roots directly around the tree. So lots of reasons to get rid of that grass right around the tree with a tree well.

How do we make it? Very simple, if it's a mature tree simply spray the active ingredient found in round-up called Glyphosate - generic version will work fine and cost a lot less. This product used properly will not harm mature trees, see link.

Simply spray around the tree like this. Notice the card board cut out to make it nice and even. Be careful that you don't drip on the lawn when you remove the card board.

If it's a young tree with soft bark, cover the bark also to keep the chemical off the tree and use far less product so it can not move into the younger tree roots. I've done this for years and never had any damage.

Do Not cut this grass out with a shovel in that there are roots just below the ground you may damage. Let the grass die down, then carefully weed eater it right down to the ground, and you have a safety zone from trees biggest threat.