The trees on your property need just as much attention as the delicate flower beds and vegetable gardens. These majestic plants can fall victim to the smallest of pests, like mites and borers. If you’re hoping to protect all your vegetation and foliage from insect infestations, use these tree care tips to your advantage.

3 Ways to Keep Your Trees Pest-Free

1. Keep the Area Tidy

The next time you’re spending time outside, check around the base of each tree trunk. If there are fallen branches and twigs, lawn maintenance supplies, or other debris, remove them. This clutter can serve as an inviting haven for pests, who will use the nooks and crannies for shelter.

Eventually, they could migrate to the tree trunk, climbing up into the canopy or down into the root system below. Once you remove the debris, pests will have far less incentive to hang around the area.

2. Avoid DIY Maintenance

If you notice a weak or split branch, you might be tempted to snap or cut it off to prevent it from falling and causing injuries or property damage. However, tree pruning is an exact science. Cutting at the wrong area or angle could give pests easy access to the tree’s main boughs and central trunk. Instead of guessing, leave this tree care task to professionals.

3. Try Bagging

Fruit-bearing trees are especially attractive to pests because of their sugar content. If you have an apple, plum, or cherry tree in your yard, you may need to prevent pests from biting into the fruit before it’s ripe.

Prevent pest infestations by placing paper bags around fruits that are beginning to form and removing them a few weeks before you expect to pick them. Bagging is seen as a smarter method than spraying pesticides since it keeps the fruit chemical-free while also preventing the need to exterminate beneficial insects, like some beetles and praying mantises.

 

If you have more questions about proper tree care, reach out to Mike's Tree Service in Cleves, OH. These professionals cater to clients throughout the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area, whether they need trimming, stump grinding, or expert maintenance advice. With over 25 years of experience, you can trust their team to improve and preserve the focal points of your landscape. Visit the website to learn more about their services, or call (513) 353-0395 to schedule an appointment.