Whether you are a new gardener or an experienced tree care professional, there are some common mistakes you should avoid. These mistakes include over-pruning, over-watering, and over-fertilizing.

Over-pruning

Whether you are trying to increase the size of your shrubs or prune away dead growth, over-pruning can do more harm than good. Over-pruning is a common tree care mistake that will leave your plants damaged, weak, and prone to disease. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to prevent this from happening.

The best way to prevent over-pruning is to make small cuts in stages. This helps keep your plants from developing open wounds. These open wounds allow disease and pests to enter the tree, and may even slow down the healing process.

The worst way to over-prune is to remove too much of the canopy. This will limit the amount of food and airflow that the tree has to process. In addition, it will reduce the tree’s ability to produce food and support its own weight. This can put the tree at risk for starvation.

A good rule of thumb is to never remove more than 5% to 10% of a tree’s crown at once. This is because it is important for the tree to grow back. Also, removing too much will reduce the tree’s structural strength.

Over-pruning will also reduce the trees ability to protect itself from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Often, the new growth that results from pruning is weaker than the old growth, which may result in damage during cold weather.

Over-pruning may also result in the growth of excessive sprouts, known as watersprouts. These sprouts are weakly attached to the tree and are a natural stress response.

Pruning trees during the growing season can also cause bark staining. This can lead to a buildup of pests and diseases that can cause the tree to fail. Tree Services Nambour area are offered by Elite Tree Company in the case that your tree falls sick due to these.

Over-fertilization

During the early years of a tree’s life, it does not need fertilizer. It is important to give newly planted trees time to adjust to the soil and climate before they are fertilized. Excessive fertilizer can damage roots, stunt growth, and even kill plants.

If you are planting a tree or shrub, you should choose a species that is suited to your region, sun and water requirements, and size at maturity. Avoid planting trees in areas where soil is contaminated with high levels of salts. They will be more susceptible to disease and insect attacks.

After planting, you will need to water your tree to establish a strong root system. Watering deeply and frequently is important for your tree’s development. Water should reach at least two inches deep into the soil to wet the entire root ball. Watering thoroughly can also remove excess fertilizer.

Excessive fertilizer can cause disease pathogen infestations, stunt growth, and burn the roots of your tree. It can also contaminate the soil on your property.

If you are not sure if your soil is healthy, take a soil sample and have a professional test the soil for nutrients. This will give you a full assessment of what nutrients are missing in the soil and what type of nutrients should be added.

Fertilizer should not be applied in areas where runoff is common. This can cause runoff pollution into lakes. Alternatively, you can use organic fertilizers to minimize water pollution. If you do, the rate you use should be based on the label for your plant type.

Trees have a limited growing space, so don’t over fertilize. During the early years, they won’t absorb nutrients until their roots are firmly established.

Over-watering

Whether you live in a hot climate or cold climate, it is important to learn how to water your trees correctly. Too much water can cause root rot, while too little can stunt the growth of your tree.

The best way to water a tree is to apply water at the base of the root ball, not directly onto the trunk. This will allow water to reach the roots and allow them to absorb oxygen.

Over-watering is one of the most common mistakes made when caring for trees. Especially in poorly drained soil, a constant stream of water can suffocate the roots.

The most important thing to remember when watering your tree is to use slow, deep watering. Most young trees need at least an inch of water per week, while mature trees need 8-10 gallons per inch of trunk diameter per week.

You should also avoid watering the leaves. This can cause yellowing, wilting and leaf scorch. You should also monitor your trees for foreign invaders.

Another way to make sure you are watering the tree correctly is to use a soil probe. A probe will let you know how much water is in the soil and what the pH is. You can also test the moisture of the soil using a screwdriver. If the screwdriver is dry, the soil is not damp enough.

When watering a tree, you should also consider the size of the canopy. This will help you determine how much water you will need. You should also remember that mature trees need a good soak every ten days. You can also apply a layer of mulch around the base of the tree. This will keep moisture in the soil and prevent competition with other plants.

Stub cuts

During pruning, many people are tempted to make a stub cut. However, this pruning technique can be damaging to the tree. It can send rot down into the branch and open the tree to diseases and insects.

This is why you need to know how to properly prune a tree. Proper cuts should be made at or just above the growing point, and should not disturb the branch bark ridge. They should also be made at the proper time of the year. This will allow the tree to heal quickly.

A study by Ferree and Schupp (2003) compared two kinds of pruning cuts. They found that a short bevel cut stimulated smaller, more fruitful renewal limbs. They also found that a short stub with an upward-facing bevel produced lower vigor.

These results indicate that the short bevel stub cut is the best technique for stimulating new fruiting lateral branches. However, they found that a longer stub did not improve renewal shoot quality.

The first cut should be made six inches away from the branch bark ridge. It should be cut at an angle of 30 degrees. The second cut should be made one or two inches further out. This is called a releadering cut. This will shorten co-dominant leaders.

The third cut should be made at the outside of the branch collar. This is the area between the branch and the trunk. This is the area that contains the vascular tissues. The specialized cells will help seal the cut. This will also help protect the tree from disease.

Branches should be removed away from gutters and roofs. This can make it difficult for people to walk under the tree.