Protect Your Trees Against
"String Trimmer & Lawn Mower Disease"


String trimmers, those wonders of invention that have saved countless hours and backaches for homeowners since the early '70s, have been less than kind to another form of life that can't protect themselves -- trees. Add this to the more obvious damage which a carelessly operated lawn mower can do, and you have a major threat to your landscape. In fact, far more damage is done to trees in the landscape by mowers and trimmers than by all diseases combined!

Most people don't realize that if you ever want to kill a tree, you would simply have to cut all the way around the trunk through the bark into the thin layer beneath it called phloem. By doing so, you cut off the tree's supply line that carries sugars from the leaves of the tree to the root system and the tree would die. Even a small gouge that penetrates through the bark can cause serious damage to a tree's health and limit its long-range health. Sadly enough, once the damage is caused, it is sometimes irreparable.

While the spinning nylon line on a string trimmer may seem fairly harmless to the thick bark of a tree, it is actually capable of cutting through the bark and the tree's lifeline in a matter of seconds - especially young or small trees. No doubt you've seen trees that look like their base has been cinched in with a belt or a girdle. If they aren't already dead, they're probably on their last legs. You can avoid watching your own trees die from this "disease" by following a few

common sense tips:

• If you use a string trimmer, don't let the spinning line touch the trunks of your trees. The tip of the spinning line is what actually causes the most harm. Even if the line doesn't immediately cut through the bark, the damage can be cumulative over time. Trim only within a couple of inches of the trunk and finish the rest of the trimming with hand shears that won't cut through the bark.
  
  
• Purchase inexpensive hard plastic or rubber guards, such as the Gardeneer® Tree Guard™ protective wraps. These guards cover the base of the tree and protect the bark from damage from string trimmers, mowers and even some small animals. They generally sell for $2 to $3 each.
  
  
• If you use a lawn service to maintain your yard, take every step possible to protect your trees. Even if you speak to the owner or manager of the service, chances are the same people won't be working in your yard every week. Remember, it only takes a few careless seconds with a trimmer to cause irreversible harm.
  
  

• Keep string trimmers completely away from a tree by creating a buffer zone between the tree trunk and the grass around it. This is easily accomplished by installing a protective landscape fabric barrier such as Gardeneer® Weed-Shield® which also protects against weed growth. Apply a thin layer of mulch on top. Be careful to not allow the mulch to cover up the bottom of the trunk, because that could also cause damage to the bark by introducing moisture, insects and disease.
  
  
• Above all, do not allow mowers of any kind to come in contact with any tree, for in an instant they can do serious damage to the tree which many times is irreparable.

The bottom line is that trees are the best investment you can have for your home. Homebuyers want them, and will pay dearly for mature ones. Homeowners find enjoyment from trees and appreciate them with each passing season. With that in mind, do everything you can to protect your investment and keep them healthy for years to come.


By Neal Caldwell, Founder, Dalen Products
Happy Gardening!