| Plant Maintenance and Disease
Management |
| We all know that if we maintain
a healthy lifestyle, we can prevent or avoid diseases that would be more
severe if we didn’t take good care of ourselves. Is this also true for our
trees and shrubs in the landscape? Are trees and shrubs that are provided
with good care more able to withstand diseases? Well, yes, this is true
for the most part. And while one doesn’t expect their trees and shrubs to
exercise and get plenty of rest, we want them to have the right dose of
minerals and to eat and drink well. So, how can tree and shrub care minimize
disease? |
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Before the tree can eat, it must make its own food. This means converting
energy from the sun into food energy. This process, called photosynthesis,
requires plenty of sunlight, water, air, and of course leaves to manufacture
food. If the tree makes ample amounts of food, it will have the energy
reserves needed to fight off infections such as canker diseases. Tree and
shrub maintenance practices that enhance food production include many good
growing practices. For example, provide water during dry periods of the growing
season. Mulch trees or shrubs with composted organic materials to help them
retain soil moisture and to reduce competition. Trees and shrubs don’t need
much fertilizer, so fertilize them only if they are showing deficiencies.
Prune for good health, but do not top trees or prune too much away because
they need leaves to make food. Prune away nearby vegetation which blocks the
sunlight to more valuable plants.
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| Can one provide too
much tender loving care to trees and shrubs? Yes, too much water leads to
root rot disease. If established trees and shrubs receive an inch of rain
each week, there is no need to water more, but when dry weather comes, apply
the one inch. Can one over-mulch? Yes, mulching too deeply can lead to excessive
surface rooting, provide a harbor for damaging rodents, and allow too much
moisture on the tree trunk. Furthermore, some mulches can change the soil
acidity over time which can lead to mineral deficiency. So, learn about
your soil and the mulch you use. Too much fertilizer can cause trees and
shrubs to grow too rapidly. Over-fertilized trees and shrubs are often more
susceptible to diseases. Fire blight and powdery mildew, for example, thrive
on trees and shrubs with too much fertilizer. If your lawn is already being
fertilized, the trees and shrubs usually do not need any additional fertilizer.
Drastic pruning such as topping opens up trees to wood decay fungi that
weaken and destroy the trees. |
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Thus, good tree and shrub maintenance practices will
result in a healthful lifestyle, and hopefully, greater resistance to
destructive plant diseases.
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