This winter, don't smother your trees

To the editor: Trees are wonderful assets. During warm weather they provide cool shade. During the autumn they provide color and crunch under foot. During the winter they guard us like poised giants, occasionally decorated with icicles and snow. Flowering trees make spring picturesque and fragrant. In this area we are blessed with all sorts of trees. I love and value every one of them.

Soon you will prepare your landscape and trees for winter. Well-intentioned landscape workers and homeowners will build small mounds around the trunks of their trees. I liken this to putting hip boots on your children or grandchildren and filling the hip boots with water. After two to three weeks in wet hip boots, how do you think their soaked feet will have fared?

Trees have feet too; they are better known as root flare. Mulch and soil piled on top of the root flare reduces the tree's ability to absorb oxygen. Wet mulch and soil on the root flare and next to the bark can endanger the tree's health. The health problems created may not reveal themselves immediately, but they will endanger your tree and shorten its life.

Some trees were planted too low. Over the years soil was stacked on top of root flares. Look at your trees. If they grow straight out of the ground, remove some soil and find your tree's feet. This will help your tree to breathe. (You may wish to consult a certified arborist.) When you prepare for winter and put mulch around your trees, keep that mulch off the root flare. Check work done by your landscape helpers. Make sure their good intentions and mulch don't smother your tree. Thank you for caring for your trees and keeping our community green and beautiful.

Judith Royal

Arlington Heights