Mowers can kill trees

Geo-TH,In · May 27, 2017

I noticed yesterday I need to have a maple tree removed from rental property. Over the years trunk been hit too many times with mower deck. This isn't the first tree death because of mowers.

Janicholson · May 27, 2017

If the renter mows the property, mount a wheel or roller to the deck that limits the distance to the trunk. Jim

ss55 · May 27, 2017

String trimmers can also tear up tree bark. A ring of plants or landscape bricks can act as a buffer zone around a tree. Hostas can work well around trees with straight trunks, like ash trees. Maples are tougher, a raised bed around the trunk might work better for a maple tree.

37chief · May 27, 2017

When disking I would sometimes tear the bark off someone's tree. I sure didn't like doing that. I can get real close, sometimes I get too close. Stan

Texasmark1 · May 27, 2017

I read cautions about knocking bark off, especially near the ground where spores are located that can bring the tree down. I have one Maple in my yard in town and took as good a care of it as I could. Only lasted a few years. If you cut it for firewood would be interesting if you find any borers or carpenter ants.

donjr · May 27, 2017

I have a few silver (swamp) maples here at the house. Guess I'm gonna have to hit them some more.......

MarkB_MI · May 28, 2017

It seems that maples are very susceptible to bark damage; doesn't take much to peel off a big hunk of bark.

Geo-TH,In · May 28, 2017

Mark,
On the same rental property, I've seen two Chinese elms die from mowers. The first one had leafs. The wind blew it into the side of garage. The trunk was rotted so bad, that when wind blew tree down, it looked like someone cut the trunk off with a saw, rotted all the way across the truck.

A few months ago, I had the other chines elm removed before it could blow down and damage house.

I like to eliminate a potential liability. Some people think they will just wait and insurance company will pay for damages.

I know ring all my trees with irises. Iris have shallow roots. Keep mowers and weed wackers away from trees. Make a large enough ring and no need for a ZTR.
geo

Traditional Farmer · May 28, 2017

The slightest damage can turn into a major problem over the years on a tree.I shot a squirrel off a young Oak over 50 years ago about 8ft up and have watched the tree grow over the years and
its developed a rotten spot right where the shot hit it.

Mowers can kill trees

Geo-TH,In

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Janicholson

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ss55

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37chief

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Texasmark1

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donjr

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MarkB_MI

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Geo-TH,In

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Traditional Farmer

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