Proper lawn watering is not only beneficial for the health of your lawn; it plays a huge factor in the health of your trees as well. Whether your lawn is being over-watered or under-watered, improper watering can invite insects and disease to attack your tree. If you water your lawn following the 1-2-3-2-1 guide, you can prevent many pressures on your lawn, trees, and shrubs.
Insect Pressure and Diseases Caused by Improper Watering
Chlorosis: Yellowing Leaves
Chlorosis is a biotic condition that prevents the tree from picking up iron and magnesium. In turn, this prevents the tree from producing chlorophyll. Chlorosis is most commonly found in trees that are planted in soils lacking organic matter or soils with unhealthy microbiome, often caused by improper watering. If over-watered, water will replace air in the soil, killing it off. Under-watering will cause the tree to develop shallow digging roots. If gone untreated, the tree will eventually die from chlorosis. The first step is to correct the watering. Then, you will need to inject the tree with iron via Tree IV. You will also want to introduce organic matter into the lawn to create a living soil again. Deep root tree fertilization twice a year will help by adding more vital nutrients for the tree.
Cytospora Canker
This canker is caused by a fungus and is found on Spruce trees. Spruces that are stressed from being over-watered are the most likely to be attacked. This can mostly be prevented from watering the lawn properly. Proper watering will keep the tree in good health and it will be better equipped to fend off funguses and other diseases. As of right now there is no treatment once the tree develops these cankers. Proper watering and organic tree fertilization are the best preventive measures for this disease.
Ips Bark Beetle
The Ips beetle will attack pine and spruce trees. Trees that have prolonged drought stress will be more susceptible to an attack. Along with deep root tree fertilization to promote a good environment for the tree, we would suggest a sprinkler audit. This will follow the 1-2-3-2-1 watering technique which will ensure the proper amount of water for both the lawn and trees throughout the growing season. If borers are found in the tree, it will need to be treated with a trunk injection called Tree-Age.
Lilac Borer
Lilac borer is an insect that attacks ash trees, most commonly found in trees that are stressed from heat and drought stress. This attack can mostly be prevented by making sure the lawn is being watered deeply but infrequently, along with deep root fertilization. This borer almost exclusively attacks unhealthy ash trees. Once the tree has been attacked, you will need to treat the tree with a trunk injection called Tree-Age.
Piñon Pitch Mass Borer
Piñon pines are the trees most affected by this borer. However, some ponderosa and other pines may be attacked. Piñon pines are particularly stressed by over-watering and over-crowding. This stress will make the tree more susceptible to this borer. Over-watering the tree is easily prevented by following the 1-2-3-2-1 watering technique. Once the tree has been attacked by this borer, it will need to be treated with a trunk injection to kill the borers and prevent further attack.
Zimmerman Moth
This insect will attack pines trees; it is most commonly found infesting Austrian Pines. The moth will only attack pine trees that are stressed from over-watering. The first step in treating the tree is to get a sprinkler audit; this will ensure the tree is being properly watered over the growing season. Then once the watering is corrected you will need to treat with a trunk injection to kill off the insect and protect it from future attacks.
