Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show/podcast: Taking care of our trees
Last week I talked about how road salt damages our plants and more. I discussed the care we need to use when our trees, evergreens and shrubs are laden with snow and ice. Then I received my Treequality holiday message from my favorite Arborist, Faith Appelquist. She talked about how she loves the Christmas lights but not when they’re strangling our trees.
Now it has bleeding cankers associated with the many cable nails that have hammered into it, for the Christmas light display that has been left permanently upon it. Now its crown is declining noticeably.
The examples of the torture some people put upon those living beauties was really over the top.
Did you know that any nail, staple or wrap of cable you attach to a tree is a wound? They are not dead signposts, they’re not billboards and they’re not real fond of being wrapped up with cords and electrical boxes hanging off them.
I have a bit of claustrophobia, I don’t like being in crowded places or in caves. I wonder if the living tree or shrub is panicking with all those lights and cables hanging on them? Maybe I’m overthinking it!
Removing the lights is not always easy either and generally, especially if we have bad weather, those lights are just left to sit there all winter. Which is WORSE.
You can always decorate your windows! I hung lights from my porch and on a pergola. No, it’s not a spectacle but it brightens my holidays and hopefully warms the hearts of those that drive by.
I don’t want you to think I’m judging! I’m not, I have loved those Christmas lights that people go all out on for many years. Faith’s article just gave me pause to consider those living trees and shrubs.
Maybe next year I’ll purchase those lighted figures people put in their yards, the deer, the Santa waving or maybe my favorite, Yukon Cornelius!
I’m curious to know what YOU think after taking a look at the pictures. Comment on my Facebook page.