Page 18 - Waterfall City Issue 6 June 2023

Waterfall City News

WINTER TREE CARE

By Emile Bolton, STM Landscaping

I t is important to take care of

our trees as they hold many
essential benefits for both
humans and animals. They
absorb carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere and release oxygen,
helping to improve air quality. Trees
also reduce noise pollution, provide
habitat for wildlife and help to
regulate climate by providing shade
and cooling the air around us.

Trees aid in preventing soil erosion and
provide us with food, not to mention
the fact that they are beautiful.

Emile Bolton from STM Landscaping
shares how trees can naturally
deteriorate and what we can do to help
preserve them.

What causes deterioration in
trees?
There are many pests and diseases
that can affect trees in Gauteng. These
include:

Aphids

Aphids are commonly known as Red Spider Mites
sucking insects as they suck out all The Red Spider Mite is hardly visible to
the leaf nutrients. Once they have the human eye. It is a sucking insect that
feasted on the leaves, tiny yellow spots feasts on the chlorophyl of the plant.
will be visible. The negative impact is Chlorophyl is responsible for producing
that the leaves grow back deformed. the green colour on leaves through a
Treatments include a broad-spectrum chemical reaction with the sun. If these
insecticide that can be applied to the cells are punctured, the leaves on your
foliage and bark. Ask your local nursery trees will be brown or yellow.
what insecticide you can use as it will
depend on which species of tree you The Red Spider Mite will be active
are treating. during hot and dry spells in summer.

16 Waterfall City Issue 6 2023