Looking across grassy prairies or even grasslands, how often do you see trees? Rarely you say? This is due to the fact trees and grass are somewhat incompatible plant types and despite this fact, we see them put together time and time again in urban settings. The reason these two plants are mostly incompatible is due to the competition for sunlight, water, mineral nutrients and growing space beneath the ground. Grass roots out number tree roots and yet the tree can hog the sunlight, which eventually kills the grass and helps increase its root capacity. So what can one do to help these two opposing plants to get along? Here are some suggestions?
1. Prune Your Trees - A tree naturally fills full of branches and leaves which then creates shade beneath it. Grass needs light so therefore the trees shade kills it. To help maintain a balance, schedule your tree for an annual pruning. Pruning your trees could take the hand of an expert but if you are doing it yourself, remember not to remove more than one-fourth of the tree's foliage-bearing crown in a single session. If a tree is thinned too much, it will be stressed, and will probably produce many watersprouts (suckers) along its branches to compensate for lost foliage. This process defeats the purpose of pruning for more light. One should instead look to possible raise the tree's crown as this will help increase light penetration. Crown raising involves the removal of lower branches on trees, and most tree species are quite tolerant of this pruning practice.
2. Control Your Trees Roots - This seems impossible you may say. But some trees form what are called surface roots. The simplest way to get rid of these surface roots is with the use of mulch. Mulching around your tree on the root areas is not only easy and affordable but it also is beneficial to the tree. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, and reduces competition from weeds. Organic mulch can help condition the soil and improve microbial activity. Apply mulch about 2 to 4 inches deep but do not pile it against the tree trunks. When mulching, the more area covered, the better. Mulch groups of trees together and extend the mulched areas as far out as practical.
3. Mow Your Grass Cautiously - To keep your tree healthy, be cautious when mowing or weed eating around it. Trees are severely damaged by the bumping of the lawn mower against the bark or even the whipping action of a nylon stringed weed eater. Such damage causes stress on a tree, which then weakens it and makes it susceptible to disease and damage.
4. Chemical treatments - Monitor the amount of herbicides, especially broadleaf weed killers that you place on your lawn where your trees are. Most trees are 'broadleaved plants' therefore if the dose is high enough, the herbicide can damage the tree or even kill it. Homeowners must keep in mind that "weed and feed" fertilizers contain herbicides, which can damage trees.
When trying to achieve a balance between keeping your trees and grass in a healthy competition, it requires making sure each have a fair advantage with one another. Understanding how each affects the other is a good way to start, this followed by a maintenance program that you stick to will ensure you can have your grass and trees too.
Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit www.centraltexastreecare.com.
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