Care From the Bottom up: Protecting Roots and the Trunk.
Roots are an essential part of a tree. It is primarily through the root system that a tree survives the elements over decades. According to author Peter Wohlleben, the delicate root system of a tree might be considered its “brain.” The roots take up water and are where a tree stores all chemical activity and most of the nutrients within the tree. When a root grows outward, it responds to stimuli. As discussed earlier, a tree will react and try to anchor itself from the
roots up when wind moves the branches of the tree. One of the most common problems that property owners may notice is girdling roots. Roots that girdle and encircle the trunk of a tree will cause the tree to have health issues. Girdling roots grow across one another and wrap around the stem or trunk of the tree. They can cut off the transport of water, nutrients, and food and constrict the growth of a tree. The best way to deal with girdling roots is prevention. If you plant a tree, make sure the root collar is at ground level and circling roots have been straightened out. If your tree is older and already has girdling roots, consult an arborist or LTE about possible remedies. Don’t try to cut into the root system and prune roots yourself. You may cause irreversible damage. Uninvited Guests: Invasive Vines In Montgomery County, invasive vine removal is always recommended when caring for a tree. Left to grow on a tree, vines can eventually kill the host tree. English ivy is an invasive commonly found on county trees, along with bittersweet, wisteria, honeysuckle, porcelain berry, grape, and kudzu. To remove an invasive vine without damaging the bark of the tree, clip the vine all around the tree trunk at about four feet above the ground and at the base of the tree. Leave the vine on the tree and the invasive vine will die. Pulling at it can injure the bark. If you can clip or pull away where the vine is Crossing and girdling roots can inhibit tree growth. Image courtesy of University of Maryland Extension Service.
growing at the base of the trunk, remove it gently. Invasive vines need to be monitored throughout the growing season to make sure they don’t reappear on the trunk. If you are dealing with poison ivy, make sure you wear gloves and handle the vine away from your body. Dispose of it without composting it. Using Trunk Guards and Care in Handling Bark Deer, string landscape trimmers, lawn mowers bumping into a tree, and car doors hitting a tree can wreak havoc on thin bark that can be easily damaged. Deer and rodents like to chew on bark. And deer rub their antlers on trees to remove velvet and leave their scent. Trunk guards, or arbor guards, are essential to protect the lower trunk of a tree. Visit the Tree Montgomery or Reforest Montgomery websites for more tips on protecting young trees from damage. You can make your own trunk guard by installing
Deer guard to protect a young tree.
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