Tree Care – Keeping Your Trees Healthy For Years to Come

Tree Care is an ongoing effort to maintain or improve the structure, appearance, and vitality of trees and shrubs. It begins with proper species selection for the given location and proper installation, ensuring that the soil is ideally suited to support tree growth. Once planted, the focus shifts to proactive monitoring and maintenance practices that minimize the probability of health issues, including pest infestation, insect damage, disease, and structural weakness.

Keeping trees healthy is an important part of achieving and maintaining the visual appeal and property value of your landscape. The best way to ensure that a tree is doing well is by regularly inspecting it for signs of pests and disease, pruning dead or dying branches, clearing the root crown to allow for proper water drainage, and mulching. Performing these tasks on a routine basis will ensure that your trees remain attractive and healthy for years to come.

Insects and disease are often the biggest threats to a tree’s health. Some diseases, such as fire blight or Japanese beetles, can kill a tree in just a few weeks. Others, such as fungal infections or bacterial pathogens, can cause leaf spots, cankers, wilting, or general decline. Regular inspections will help you spot these problems quickly and take steps to prevent them from spreading.

When a tree is young, it is important to keep the root crown clear of grass and other plant material so that moisture can drain away from the roots. Mulching the area around the base of a tree will also help by retaining moisture, regulating soil temperature, and suppressing weed growth.

Thoroughly water newly-planted trees to help settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Continue to water trees on a regular schedule throughout the growing season to promote deep roots and increase drought tolerance.

If a new tree is struggling, carefully sawing off competing leader shoots will help it to become established with a single dominant trunk. This prevents future branch failure in that area. When pruning older trees, make sure to saw the branch close to its attachment point to avoid causing wounds that could lead to rot or insect infestation.

When you notice that a tree is declining, contact your local tree service for help. ISA-Certified Arborists are trained to spot potential problem areas, such as root rot or structural flaws, and can recommend the correct course of action.

The most effective way to check a tree’s water needs is by feeling the soil. A well-watered soil will be moist to the touch. If the soil feels dry, it is time to water. To conserve water, use a soaker hose or a nozzle with a water break. It is also helpful to move the hose around to ensure that all of the root mass is wetted. Avoid over-watering, however, as this can encourage fungus and root rot. A soil test can indicate which nutrients are lacking, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, so that a targeted fertilizer program can be implemented.

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