Common Cultural Problems of Landscape Trees & Shrubs

Trees and shrubs bring beauty to home landscapes but sometimes common cultural practices can have adverse effects on the health of the plants. Use of lawn mowers, sprinkler systems, fertilizers and mulch, practices that are supposed to keep one’s garden and lawn green, can cause great problems for the home garden if not used properly. This fact sheet is designed to help the average home gardener understand how to identify the symptoms of improper garden care and take the necessary measures to maintain trees and shrubs that are healthy and green. Mechanical Damage Lawn mowers and edge-trimmers are supposed to help keep a lawn and garden looking crisp and clean; however the trunks of trees and shrubs are easy targets of careless use of these machines. Chipped bark exposes vascular tissue to the elements, providing an easy entry for bacteria, fungi, and pest to enter and infest a plant. Trees and shrubs are most susceptible to serious injury and disease during the spring when leaves are emerging and the bark is not fully developed after winter dormancy, as well as during fall leaf drop. Bark splitting is caused by the wounds from pruning, insects, mechanical damage from lawn mowers and weed-whackers or planting too deep. Decline or dieback may also occur from trunk damage; fungi, bacteria, and insects can cause the breakdown of tissue around and inside the wound, causing structural problems for the root buttresses and lower trunk area