Tree Care Myths Page Two

We are going down the list of the top ten tree mistakes.  The majority of them are myths from who knows where.  Myth One was that trees have to be staked.  Wrong.

MYTH NUMBER TWO: Newly planted trees must have their trunks wrapped with tree wrap to stop sunscald and insect entry. Research utilizing the most common tree wraps have shown that they don’t stop extreme fluctuations in temperature on the bark. In some instances, the temperature extremes are actually worse. Also, tree wraps have proven quite ineffective in stopping insect entry. In fact, some insects prefer to burrow below it.

MYTH NUMBER THREE: Trees ought to be pruned back heavily once they are planted to make up for the decrease in roots. Getting trees established is best with unpruned trees. Although pruning the top can reduce the quantity of water that evaporates from the leaves, the tree needs a full crown to produce the much-needed food and the plant hormones that creates root growth. The tree will develop a stronger, much more substantial root system if it has a fuller crown. Limit pruning at the time of planting to the removal of broken branches.

MYTH NUMBER FOUR: When removing a branch from a tree, the final cut should be flush with the stem to optimize healing. To begin with, trees do not “heal” in the sense that wounds on individuals heal. Our bodies regenerate tissues in much the same form of the tissues that were removed (to a limited extent). Trees compartmentalize wounds, producing woundwood over the wounded area. Flush cutting removes the “branch collar,” making a bigger wound than if the branch had been removed outside the collar. Also, it’s most likely that a few of the parent branch tissue will probably be removed. The spread of decay inside the tree is higher with flush cuts.