Some trees have been around for hundreds of years, but regardless of whether it’s old or new, all trees are susceptible to damage, disease and a decline in health.
Our Manchester tree surgeons are experts in tree health, so this post will tell you how to keep your trees in good shape for years to come.
We spend a lot of time looking at our trees’ mass, yet little time looking at what’s going on below the ground. The roots are the foundation of the tree and it’s therefore unsurprising that in order for a tree to thrive the majority of elements it needs are below the soil.
Healthy trees need to need the following to remain in good shape: oxygen, water, nutrients, and light. Aside from light, all of these elements come from below the soil’s surface.
For this reason, whenever customers ask us, “why are we only seeing problems now, this tree has been here for over 30 years”? The simple answer is we’re not.
Usually the tree has been struggling for a long time underground before we start to see signs of damage on the surface. As trees age they become more susceptible to damage from issues below the soil. Decline from poor soil conditions can start long before the natural life span of a tree is over; this is why you should speak to a tree surgeon as soon as you see a change in the tree.
The Problem
One of the main problems in urban environments is that we’re often keeping the area around our trees tidy, sweeping away any stay leaves and twigs. Those leaves are actually incredibly important for a tree’s development, as they are in the process of breaking down and returning many of the nutrients collected by the tree back in to the soil.
The tree takes nitrogen up from the roots, which is subsequently returned in the falling leaves. Without this process trees in gardens, on the road, or in other urban environment can suffer from slow growth, discolouration, and even death.
This is why trees in more natural environments, such as woods and forests do fine on their own, as they’re automatically adding the nutrients back in to their soil.
To ensure your soil is providing your trees with what it needs, regularly do the following (at least a few times a year):
- Mulch the area around your tree using manure. Manure often provides much more nutrients than composts, as by the time you come to use compost a lot of the nutrients within it have already decomposed. You can pick up manure from most farms.
- Use compost. Whilst manure may provide more nutrients, compost is much more readily available as you can simply collect your left over food and add it to the soil. Coffee grounds are especially good.
- Break up the soil around your tree to encourage air flow.
To summarise, just because your tree may appear healthy, it doesn’t mean it’s getting all the nutrients it needs to remain in good health. Check and nourish your soil regularly to ensure your tree not only remains in good health, but is able to flourish in the future.
Interested in what else you can do to have your trees looking amazing? Check out our tree services here.