Garden Tree Care 101: Defending Your Trees from Wildlife

Imagine investing time, effort, and resources into growing beautiful trees only to see them damaged by local wildlife. Protecting trees from wildlife tampering is crucial for maintaining healthy, vibrant gardens and landscapes.

This blog post will guide gardeners, homeowners, and property managers through protecting trees from wildlife damage. You’ll learn about the common culprits behind tree damage, how to identify signs of tampering, and effective strategies for safeguarding your trees. By the end, you’ll be well-equipped to defend your trees against wildlife threats and ensure they thrive for years to come.

Call 317-783-2518 For Tree Care Assistance in Indianapolis Indiana
Call 317-783-2518 For Tree Care Assistance in Indianapolis Indiana

Common Wildlife Threats to Trees

Many types of wildlife can pose threats to trees, especially in residential and commercial areas. Insects like beetles and borers can infest tree trunks, while larger animals like deer can damage bark and foliage. Birds, too, can sometimes harm trees by pecking at their bark or nesting in them. Understanding these threats is the first step in protecting your trees and ensuring they remain healthy and vibrant for years to come. Regular monitoring and proper tree care can help mitigate these risks.

  • Deer: Deer are notorious for rubbing their antlers against tree bark, causing significant damage. They also browse on young shoots and leaves, stunting tree growth.
  • Rodents: Rodents such as squirrels, mice, and voles can gnaw on tree bark and roots. Their chewing can girdle a tree, cutting off its nutrient supply and leading to its death.
  • Birds: While birds often help control insect populations, some species can harm trees by pecking at the bark. Woodpeckers, for example, can create holes that leave trees vulnerable to disease and pests.

Identifying Signs of Wildlife Damage

Recognizing the signs of wildlife damage early can save your trees from irreversible harm. Here’s what to look for:

  • Bark Rubbing: Look for areas where the bark has been stripped or rubbed away, often found on the lower trunks of trees. This damage is usually caused by deer.
  • Chewed Bark and Roots: If you notice chew marks or missing bark, rodents are likely the culprits. These marks are typically low on the trunk or around the tree base.
  • Holes in the Bark: Holes drilled into the bark are a clear indicator of bird activity, specifically woodpeckers. These holes can vary in size and depth.

Effective Strategies for Protecting Trees

Protecting your trees requires a multifaceted approach. Here are several strategies to consider:

  • Physical Barriers: Installing physical barriers can deter wildlife from damaging your trees. Fencing, tree guards, and netting are effective options.
  • Fencing: A sturdy fence can keep larger animals like deer away from your trees. Ensure the fence is tall enough—typically at least 8 feet—to prevent deer from jumping over it.
  • Tree Guards: Tree guards made of plastic or metal can protect the lower trunk from gnawing rodents and rubbing deer. Wrap the guard around the base of the tree, ensuring it’s snug but not too tight.
  • Netting: Netting can prevent birds from pecking at your trees. Drape the netting over the tree canopy, securing it to the ground with stakes.

Repellents

Repellents are another effective method for deterring wildlife. They can be chemical or natural and should be applied regularly.

  • Chemical Repellents: Commercial repellents are available for various types of wildlife. These products often contain ingredients that taste or smell unpleasant to animals.
  • Natural Repellents: Natural repellents include homemade sprays made from garlic, hot pepper, or essential oils. These can be just as effective as chemical options and are often more environmentally friendly.

Habitat Modification

Modifying the habitat around your trees can make it less attractive to wildlife.

  • Remove Food Sources: Ensure there are no food sources, such as fallen fruit or bird feeders, that might attract wildlife to your garden.
  • Clear Vegetation: Clear away dense underbrush and tall grass around your trees. This reduces hiding spots for rodents and other small animals.

Sustainable and Wildlife-Friendly Methods

While protecting your trees is essential, it’s also important to consider sustainable and wildlife-friendly methods.

  • Companion Planting: Planting certain types of plants around your trees can naturally repel harmful wildlife. For example, marigolds can deter deer and rabbits.
  • Encouraging Natural Predators: Encourage the presence of natural predators, such as birds of prey and beneficial insects, to control the population of harmful wildlife.
  • Using Eco-friendly Products: Opt for Eco-friendly repellents and barriers that do not harm the environment or non-target species.

Conclusion

Protecting your trees from wildlife damage is crucial for maintaining a healthy and beautiful landscape. By understanding the threats, identifying signs of damage, and implementing effective strategies, you can safeguard your trees against wildlife tampering. Don’t wait until it’s too late—start implementing these tree protection measures today. And if you need professional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact your local tree care company. Your trees will thank you!

For more information and personalized advice on garden tree care, turn to a pro. Contact Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 to get assistance from a certified arborist in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients with comprehensive tree care solutions.

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Can I Protect My Trees From Lightning Strikes?

Lightning strikes can be devastating to trees, causing irreparable damage and even death. But there are steps you can take to protect your trees from a lightning strike. With some simple tree care practices and proper tree service, you can help ensure that your trees stay safe no matter what the weather brings.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to effectively protect your trees from lightning strikes, so read on for more information!

Call 317-783-2518 For Professional Tree Removal Service in Indianapolis IN
Call 317-783-2518 For Professional Tree Removal Service in Indianapolis IN

How to Protect Trees Against Lightning Strikes

Routine Tree Care

The first step to protecting your trees from lightning strikes is proper tree maintenance. Make sure that you are regularly pruning, fertilizing, mulching, and watering your trees, as this will help them stay healthy and strong enough to withstand a lightning strike. In addition, make sure that the tree is free from dead or dying limbs and branches. These can easily be ignited by lightning and cause severe damage to the rest of the tree. If cuts on the tree need to be made for any reason, it’s best to contact a professional Indianapolis tree service so they can do it properly without risking any further damage.

Lightning Rods

It’s also important to note that lightning rods can be installed around trees in order to protect them from lightning strikes. These rods are placed near the tree and provide an alternate path for the electricity to travel, redirecting it away from the tree and preventing damage. If you live in an area prone to lightning storms, this may be a great option for protecting your trees.

Weather Forecasting

Finally, make sure that you stay up-to-date on weather forecasts during stormy seasons. If there is a forecast of severe thunderstorms or high winds, take extra precautions to protect your trees by pruning back dead or dying limbs and branches and removing any objects close to the trees which could conduct electricity. Also, if possible, try to keep all people and pets away from the trees during a thunderstorm just in case a lightning strike does occur. 

Conclusion

By following these tips and taking the right precautions, you can help protect your trees from lightning strikes. Proper tree care and maintenance is key, as well as having a professional tree service on hand to help with any necessary tasks. If you need more information or advice about how to keep your trees safe from lightning strikes, contact an experienced tree service contractor at Complete Tree Care, today. They’ll be able to answer any questions and provide valuable insight into the best ways to protect your trees.

Remember: Lightning safety isn’t something to take lightly; it’s important to stay aware of weather forecasts and take extra measures when storms are forecasted. With the right precautions in place, you can ensure that your trees remain safe during even the worst of weather.

Tree Removal for Dead or Damaged Trees

When it comes to dead or storm damaged trees, removal is often the best course of action. Not only can dead or damaged trees be unsightly, but they can also pose a danger to your property and those around it. Dead trees are particularly problematic as they are more susceptible to falling during a storm or high winds.

Additionally, they are often home to pests and diseases that can spread to other trees in the area. It’s important to consult with a professional tree service company in Indianapolis to discuss your tree removal options. These actions will ensure the job is done safely and efficiently. So, if you have a tree that’s seen better days, don’t hesitate to take action and have it removed before it causes any more problems.

Complete Tree Care is a top tree service provider serving the Indianapolis region. Contact us today at 317-783-2518 to request more information about our winter tree services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We provide residential and commercial tree services, as well as storm damage tree service.

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How to Care for Trees Before and After Storms

Central Indiana has seen a significant amount of rain and thunderstorms as of late. For many home and business owners, this increase in thunderous precipitation has had a negative impact on landscaping trees. Because trees are such important assets, and therefore investments, it is important to take good care of them before and after a thunderstorm.

Continue reading to learn how to care for trees before and after storms, plus which company to trust in central Indiana for superior tree removal and tree care services.

Storm Damage Tree Service Indianapolis Indiana 317-783-2518
Storm Damage Tree Service Indianapolis Indiana 317-783-2518

Storm Season Tree Care

Although tornado and thunderstorm season typically occurs between April and June in Indiana, you never know when a series of threatening rainstorms will sweep through the Hoosier state. Severe weather and rainstorms can wreak havoc on trees, causing broken branches, uprooting, and trees that have fallen on power lines, houses, buildings, vehicles, and roadways.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect your trees against inclement weather like tornado and thunderstorms, both before and after they occur.

Storm Damage Preventative Maintenance for Trees

Before the storm comes, there are several things you can do to ensure the safety and security of your landscaping trees. Pruning is one of the best and most effective methods for abating storm damage in trees. It is important to have your landscaping trees and evaluated by a licensed arborist or tree care professional to assess their vulnerability to storm damage and other external threats and hazards.

Another effective strategy for storm damage tree protection is cabling embracing. Young or newly planted trees are the best candidates for cabling embracing because they are the most vulnerable to the high winds generated in thunderstorms. It may also be necessary to cable embrace trees that are leaning, dying, or declining in health. These two are also vulnerable to storm damages.

When planting trees on your property, it is important to keep them out of range of power lines and telephone poles. If the big storm comes through and knocks the tree down, it will disrupt the local power within the community and risk catching fire.

After planting your trees, it is important to begin a routine tree pruning plan while they’re still young. This will create strong, healthy, and robust trees in maturity. Trees in such quality condition will be more resistant to inclement weather conditions like tornadoes and thunderstorms.

It is important to have your trees routinely inspected and serviced by a professional tree care company in Indianapolis to ensure they are strong and free of any hazard or disease. When your trees are in optimal condition, they are better capable of withstanding storm damages.

Post-Storm Tree Care

After a severe rainstorm has come through, your first step is to inspect the landscaping damages. In most cases, high winds and heavy rains and hail will cause leaves and branches to break off. In this case, you would need to do a little bit of yard cleanup then call a licensed and insured tree care company in Indianapolis for routine tree trimming service. This will get your trees back on track with healthy and optimal growth.

In more serious cases, you might find a tree uprooted, tilted, or completely fallen over. In worst case scenarios, you can have a tree on top of your roof or car. In these more serious cases, you would need to contact a local Indianapolis tree removal service for assistance with removing fallen, storm damaged trees.

Are you looking for a trusted tree care professional who can help you understand the best routine maintenance plan for your landscaping trees? Contact Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for affordable tree service in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We provide residential and commercial tree services, as well as storm damage tree service.

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How to Stop Deer Damage to Trees in Fall

Usually when you see a deer, you feel honored and excited. And when it’s a buck, you really feel like you’ve hit the jackpot! However, frequent deer sightings can sometimes veer more towards a nuisance deer problem depending on the impact they have on your property, particularly on your trees. In fact, many homeowners who live near wooded areas begin to question whether or not deer activity can harm their trees.

Aside from grazing, many homeowners ask why bucks rub their antlers on newly-planted trees, and if this behavior can injure young trees. These are very good questions, and important information to your overall tree care routine.

Continue reading to learn why bucks are rubbing their antlers on your trees, and how to stop them from causing any damage with this behavior.

Tree Removal Services Indianapolis IN 317-783-2518
Tree Removal Services Indianapolis IN 317-783-2518

The Link Between Bucks and Trees

Bucks rub their antlers against young trees because they are still flexible. This is informally known as buck rubbing. There is a misconception about bucks who rub their antlers on trees. Many people in the past have assumed that it is due to the velvet that initially covers buck antlers.

It was believed that this velvet was itchy, and bucks were simply relieving the irritation. But this can’t be true because antlers do not have nerve endings! Research shows that bucks most likely exhibit this behavior for a number of reasons. But the 3 most common include:

☑ Bucks rub to mark their territory.
☑ Bucks rub to practice or strengthen neck muscles for battle.
☑ Bucks rub to arouse and attract fertile does.

Deer and Buck Damage to Trees

This distinctive buck behavior can harm trees. It can create open wounds in trees and break off bark. This leaves a tree more vulnerable to diseases, infections, and pest infestations. If a tree gets sick, it can quickly decline and die. So, it is necessary to take action because deer will come back to your trees, season after season.

Tree Protection Tips for Deer Tampering

You have a few options to protect your trees from deer interference. You can install a fence around your property, which will inhibit deer from being able to enter your premises. If you are not interested in such a large investment, you can install a perimeter fence just around your trees. You can make these using sheets of welded wire mesh, or you can purchase manufactured tree barriers or ornamental metal grates on the market.

Be sure they are at least 5 to 6 feet tall and reinforced by 8-foot-tall rebar. The rebar should be pounded into the ground at regular intervals around the perimeter of the tree. If this doesn’t work for you, you can use corrugated plastic drainpipe. Cut it in half, lengthwise, and wrap it around the tree.

Do you have trees on your property that need to be removed as a result of deer and buck damages? Contact Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for professional and affordable tree removal in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve commercial and residential clients.

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How to Protect Young Trees From Buck Damage
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Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518
Indianapolis Tree Care 317-783-2518