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Mowing compacts soil and can cause tree decline
Maintaining turfgrass under the tree canopy can cause tree decline in three ways: 1) The vibration of mowers compacts soil which reduces water and air infiltration and increases runoff; trees become stressed and produce shallower roots. 2) Irrigated turfgrass can affect trees if the pH of the water is alkaine. This causes severe nuttrient deficiencies in pines and some other trees. 3) Mowers injure lower trunk (See: typical trunk injury).
