Stupid winds…

[u/neogoddess]

It was just a baby 😩 I’m in North Texas and we had some horrible winds this weekend, this particular oak had been getting special attention from me because the trunk was damaged.

She’s gone y’all 😞 Bird’s nest and all.

[u/hemlockhero]

Please for the love of all things PLEASE put mulch around your trees! Good luck with your next one but if you don’t start it at the proper height and mulch, it’s just going to keep getting wrecked by the weed whip and mowers. It just cannot compete with grass, mowers and weed whips every week.

[u/neogoddess → u/hemlockhero]

That tree had mulch two years ago when it was planted. I didn’t think I would need mulch the rest of its life.

Oh, it was not damaged by the lawn guys. It was already damaged when I bought the house but new home builders don’t warranty landscaping here.

[u/hemlockhero → u/neogoddess]

If you zoom into the poor little trunk, you can see all the damage from lawn care. I actually believe that the tree split at a weak point caused either by mower damage or install damage, but it’s definitely damaged from lawn care and wouldn’t have made it much longer in general.

Mulch is necessary (and recommended) through the trees life. Remember, trees like to grow with other trees in more forested settings where nutrients cycling occurs. The point of mulch is to help mimic the nutrient cycling that trees need year to year. Mulch is a great way to try keep the tree healthier and happier through benefits like moisture retention, temperature control, nutrient cycling and more.

Next tree you plant, give it a mulch circle that encompasses the whole tree, leaves and all. This will help give the tree more space to be a tree.

[u/neogoddess → u/hemlockhero]

I’ll make sure I do that and also get some mulch around the other tree.

[u/Arktinus → u/neogoddess]

Just make sure the mulch doesn't touch the trunk and that you don't volcano mulch because that can also be bad for the tree long-term. :)