One thing I've learned in this industry of mine is that a tree guy's list of pet peeves ranks pretty low in people's general lists of importance. It is, however, the season for yardwork.
All things considered, I guess if I'm going to pull off a tree care rant now, Kato, is the time.
Bear with me, and remember this has been building for decades.
1. Number one is
lawn mower-itis. This malady is by far the most common, most deadly, most easily preventable problem affecting our trees. If you have trees in your lawn, odds are good it affects yours.
Lawn mowers and string trimmers hitting and injuring a tree are the cause of lawn mower-itis. It is insidious and it is everywhere. It damages and often kills trees. Because it is so easily preventable is why it heads my list.
The weakness in a tree's design is that girdling (removing or choking off the bark and cambium layer in a ring completely around the tree) will kill it. Mowers and trimmers are amazingly adept at girdling trees.
The solution? Separate your trees and lawn. Get over that image of your trees standing in a beautiful lawn with the trimmed grass coming right up to it. Put in a mulch bed around your trees. Take the mulch out to the tree's drip line. The mulch will help the roots as well as keep the mowers at bay. Your trees will be much better off.
2.
My husband could do it, if he had the time. Okay, sure. And I could perform surgery on my own hemorrhoids, too. This really isn't a peeve, but I find it a bit humorous to hear when I am looking up at a 70 foot dead pine leaning out over the house. The implication? Your job doesn't take any skill, tree guy, but my husband has more important things to do. And please remember that before you give me a quote.
Fine. Buy a chainsaw. And let me get back to those other pains in my butt.
3. Weed-n-Feed. Fertilize your lawn and kill the weeds! Sure, but you know what? That same stuff can kill your trees. Or make them look so sick you'll wonder what's going on. Turning kind of yellow, are they? Hmmm.
The solution? Don't use the stuff. If you're that obsessed with a weed-free lawn, take the time to either pull them, or if you must, buy a little spray bottle of broadleaf herbicide at your local box store and go around with that.
Better yet, blow off the whole "perfect lawn" a bit. We live in a semi-arid climate, folks. We also have big water issues. But I'm getting off my subject.
4. Last but certainly not least on the short list is
Poor planting. Trees planted too high. Trees planted too low. Trees planted in the wrong place. Trees planted without removing the twine commonly wrapped around the trunk at the nursery. I see it all the time. I mean ALL the time. By homeowners and professional landscape outfits alike.
If you are buying a tree for your property, take the time to learn how to plant it correctly, especially the depth. Ditto if you are hiring a landscaper. Make sure they remove any twine after it is planted. You would be amazed how often I see that. Ten years later and you have death by girdling. Doesn't have to happen.
And consider how that cute little spruce tree is going to look in 10 years planted right next to the front walk.
I could go on, but alas the key to a good rant is to keep it short.
And so I won't bring up box stores selling their trees that don't stand a chance. I won't bring up people selling trees from the back of their trucks in parking lots. Or the people who buy them. I will say, if your tree is dead and you need a chainsaw, buy a Stihl. They're the best.
There. I feel much better.