If you have trees on your property, you understand how much joy they bring to your life. They clean the air, reduce noise pollution, and can even bear fruit. That's why it's important to understand the biggest threats to your trees. Here are a few reasons why you should always have the services of a local arborist to help counter some of these threats.

1. Lack of Professional Trimming

Regardless of the species that you have on your property, you should always have your trees regularly trimmed. Trimming isn't just for aesthetic purposes; it also helps impact the health of the tree or spruce. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, pruning while a plant is dormant makes it easier for the plant to recover, which is important for next year's flowers. Now that cold weather is here, it's the perfect time to prune trees so that when spring comes, they'll be vibrant with leaves and fruit.

The last thing you should do is try to trim trees yourself. Hiring a local arborist can ensure that your trees are pruned at the exact point needed. When homeowners attempt to do their own trimming, it's a threat to the tree as it may take off healthy parts or leave sick parts that can further spread.

2. Pests

Unfortunately, there are pests that are attracted to your trees. Some of these pests can spread illness that can weaken the tree or bring about premature death. The type of pest that your tree attracts can depend on the species. Tree pest invasion may not always be obvious to the naked eye, however, your local arborist knows what to look for. When they do timely tree inspections, they know how to handle it effectively without hurting the tree.

3. Untreated Disease

Trees are living creatures that are capable of getting sick, just like humans. Luckily, your local arborist knows what to do to treat such illnesses. Tree illnesses can spread due to a pest invasion. Diseases can spread when fungi begin to grow out of control. When fungi grow on dead wood, that's not a cause for alarm. But when they're growing on living wood, that's a sign that the tree may be in its final stages and needs removal. You can prevent premature tree death by having a local arborist trim any diseased branches. By trimming the diseased branches, it could prevent them from spreading to the healthy part of the tree.

When those diseased branches aren't tended to, they will spread to the entire tree. Once the entire tree is sick, it can further spread the illness to trees that are close by. That's another reason why regular trimming is important and not doing so is a major threat. When trees are too close together, that disease can keep spreading when there's no breathing room between them. Before you know it, you may have a property filled with diseased trees.

4. Inclement Weather

It's no secret that bad weather can also be bad for trees. There is a myth that lightning doesn't strike twice in the same spot. However, that's not true when it comes to trees. The oldest tree in the bunch is often one of the tallest structures in an area. As a result, it's easy for it to attract lightning strikes. That poor tree can keep attracting lightning strikes over and over again until it completely wears out or splits. When a tree is split down the middle, it usually has to be removed since it's too damaged.

5. Forest Fires

Wood is a highly combustible material. If you live in states that are prone to forest fires out west, then you should be mindful of those alerts. Once a forest fire gets out of control, it can spread extremely quickly, even in a residential zone. Unfortunately, forest fires continue to destroy tons of trees and homes every year.

6. Erosion

Are you in an area that's dealing with ongoing erosion? If so, it can impact the health of your trees. Trees need healthy soil and a firm implantation for their roots. If the soil that they are living in gets worn down and no longer has nutrients, it can greatly affect the lifespan of the tree.

7. Weeds and Other Plants

Weeds are a nuisance to anyone who gardens or has a thriving landscape. Weeds are a naturally occurring invasive species that are known for sucking all of the nutrients out of the soil. But weeds don't just affect the vegetables in your garden or your flower beds. Weeds can also wreak havoc on the nutrient supply that gets to your tree. Remember, your trees need to feed like any other vegetation on your property. If your trees are beginning to look weak, you should call a local arborist to see if there is any additional fertilizer that they can use that can not only get rid of weeds, but can quickly restore life into the tree.

Weeds aren't the only plants that can affect your tree. Non-native species can also affect the soil on your property. Therefore, before you go to Home Depot or any other home improvement store and randomly plant a tree or other plant on your landscape, check with your arborist. If you're not careful, your non-native plant species may take over the soil and rob it of its nutrients. In some cases, it may begin to suck life out of a nearby tree itself. Always ask your arborist any questions you may have regarding your tree.

8. Climate Change

Climate change is rampant throughout the entire planet. It's no secret that the constant changes in climate have had an effect on the seasons and weather patterns. What does this have to do with your residential trees? A lot, actually! After all, your trees are susceptible to changes in the environment. The reason why the trees change colors in the fall is due to that seasonal change. If you're in an area that no longer remains the way it used to be, or has more extreme heat, it can affect your trees negatively. Luckily your local arborist can help adjust tree care to help your trees thrive regardless of the weather patterns.

As you can see, there are many threats that you have to worry about as a tree owner. Your trees may be strong and resilient, but they can still be fragile in other ways. After all, your tree health can be affected by the environment and climate, weather, pollution, as well as how you personally handle the trees. Do your part as a responsible tree owner and make sure you always have a professional available to attend to them. For tree care that you can trust, call us today at Eduardo's Tree Service for more information regarding our services. As your local arborist, we're glad to handle any tree threats that are out there. We'll happily explain our process and ensure you understand how to care for your trees accordingly. Give us a call today and we'll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our services. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the near future!