New Braunfels Tree Treatment

Here are some ways that treating your trees will help with the health of your trees? Trees can become pest-ridden and infected with diseases when they are stressed. In most instances, this infestation is brought about by environmental issues such as toxic chemical pesticides, using too much fertilizer or inappropriate fertilizer, insufficient water or too much water, compacted soil, planting poorly adapted trees and planting only a single species in the same location among other factors. Here are some helpful tips that can help you to keep your trees healthy and information about our tree treatment programs.

Tree Fertilization

1. Avoid applying toxic chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Use of toxic chemical pesticides should be avoided as they destroy useful microorganisms, nematodes and beneficial insects. Artificial fertilizers lack balance of nutrients (mostly having high nitrogen content) resulting to poor tree feeding. These chemicals also interfere with living organisms in the soil, sometimes even killing beneficial microbes in the soil. We only use organic tree fertilization methods at San Antonio Tree Surgeons.

Using An Air Spade For Root Flare Excavation

Root Crown Excavation Using An Air Spade

2. Aerate tree root zone well. Tree roots need good aeration for the tree to remain healthy. Avoid tearing, tilling or plowing the soil around your trees as this destroys the tree’s feeder roots. Instead, drill holes in the entire root zone using appropriate auger tools and equipment such as a earth auger; alternatively, you can use an air spade or liquid injectors. Start your aeration between the tree trunk and the drip line then progress outward. Holes should be between 6 and 12 inches deep.
3. Take away excess soil from the root flare of your trees. A number of trees are either planted too deep or some eroded soil has just been deposited on their root flares. Any excess soil on root flares reduces the amount of oxygen available for roots; this leads to girdling of the roots. Also, too much soil or mulch around the trunks makes the bark moist most of the time and this can cause rotting or predispose the tree to infections. Excess soil should preferably be removed before planting but for already established trees, use an air spade to remove it.

Tree Spraying

4. Spray trees and surrounding soil. Consider spraying the ground, tree trunks, twigs and foliage using a compost tea. As aforementioned, avoid spraying with synthetic, toxic chemical pesticides; there are some nice natural compounds out there that can be used. Cornmeal juice and garlic oil tea are particularly good for controlling diseases and fungal infections in your trees. These substances can be incorporated into compost tea or any other natural foliage spray. We use Neem oil as an organic tree spray and it only works to stop chewing and sucking insects, not beneficial insects. It is advisable to spray your trees regularly; at least twice a year if the budget allows.
Hopefully, the above four tips will help you to keep your trees healthy. In case you’re not sure whether or not to treat or spray, then don’t hesitate to contact us for a thorough diagnosis.