Farmers are well aware of the wind-reduction properties of trees. For countless generations they have planted rows of towering trees to act as windbreaks, protecting valuable crops. In smaller gardens, however, a tree’s ability to reduce wind and air circulation can have a harmful effect, especially in humid climates.
In any garden where disease is a [...]
Some trees, such as maples and elms, naturally produce a great mass of surface roots. Other trees that are normally deep-rooting will often produce quantities of surface roots when planted in a garden situation merely to take advantage of the frequent, shallow irrigation from sprinklers. In either case, too many roots in a planting area [...]
There are two basic methods of pruning, thinning and heading back, both of which are usually necessary at some time in the life of a tree. Thinning means to take out whole branches, and produces a more open, graceful-looking specimen. Thinning is the most important type of pruning you can do if your objective is [...]
Shade is a desirable element in the garden only up to a point. If your garden feels dark and dank because it is too heavily shaded by overgrown trees, you will want to prune them back so that you will have full use of your space. If you have moved into a home with an [...]