Just as insects and disease threaten trees, human activity does as well. One serious, but preventable threat is damage by mowers and string trimmers.
Mechanical damage to a tree can be quite serious since the living tissue of the tree (the cambuim) and the structures that carry food and water (the phloem and xylen) lie just under the bark.
DON’T DO THIS TO YOUR TREE!
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Trees are much more easily damaged in the spring when the tree is putting on new growth.
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Young trees can be seriously damaged by small wounds, especially with repeated injury.
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Damaged trees can grow poorly and branches may die.
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Wounds provide entry points for pathogens and decay.
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Often, multiple wounds join together to form a girdling injury, which will weaken or kill the tree.
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In the worst cases, the fungal decay nay become severe enough to compromise the long-term health or structural integrity of the tree.
REDUCE THE RISK TO YOUR TREES
Instead of allowing grass to grow under trees, use mulch. You won’t damage the tree with lawn care equipment if there is no grass to mow there and the tree will benefit from the mulch as well. Also, trees and grass compete for nutrients and moisture – another win for the tree if the grass is gone!Remove weeds or grass by hand when necessary.Use protective guards on young trees if mowing nearby must be done.