Trees are one of the most valuable landscape assets that offer many essential things to human beings. For example, they shade our houses, cut the energy costs, and most essentially give oxygen to us to live a healthy life. Apart from that, they also increase property values, help in reducing air pollution, soil erosion, and deliver habitat for wildlife.
Moreover, they add the essence of beauty and a calming presence to our everyday lives. In short, you can say they are the peaceful and serene part of the background. However, most of us forget that trees also need the care to give us all the above things. That means proper tree maintenance is very important for their consistent growth and ongoing health.
Now the question arises how to take care of trees to keep them in good condition and for long-lasting life?
Begin landscape care, especially for new trees in the fall
Many people wait until spring to begin thinking about the landscaping part. But if you talk about pros, they very well know head start in the fall can make overall springtime care easier and most rewarding.
Some of the tree care tips that will help your tree be healthy in the cold season is practicing the PINE method that prune, inspect, nourish, and extend. Let’s understand this deeply: –
- Prune unruly branches
- Inspect trees for dying limbs, insect damage, or signs of disease
- Nourish trees with water and organic mulch
- Extend next year’s growing season by planting new trees in the fall
Remember that well-cared trees don’t die, snap, lose limbs, or house termites. Apart from that, keeping trees healthy also prevents damage to your house and property. So, keep this point in mind for all trees.
- Keep the grass away
Grass that is growing up against the trunk surely competes with trees for air, water, and nutrients and wins the competition. Now, if you talk about young trees, they also develop poorly when the grass is allowed to grow against them. So, if you want your trees to be healthy, maintain a grass-free, mulched area around the trunk.
- Limit staking your tree
Indeed, tree staking is never done with the intention of harming the tree. The main goal of staking is done with love and with a desire to promote root and trunk growth and protect trees from harm.
But some of the tree planters do not understand this; they do improper tree staking, which replaces a supportive trunk and root system with an artificial support that causes the tree to put its resources into growing taller but not wider.
- Water the plants properly.
Young trees especially need ample water regularly, but mature trees need to be watered during periods of droughts as well. The reason is water deeply saturates the complete root zone outside the drip line.
- Choose the right trees to plant on your property.
One of the experts says that “ I always tell my clients to pick the right tree for the right place. This is what you can say are the first and most essential steps in making sure you will get years of enjoyment from any of the trees. According to experts, always select a species that is well adapted to the climate and specific conditions of soil, space, and also light at the planting site.
- Protect the roots of the trees
If you want your trees to be healthy and survive for a long time, make sure cars and other heavy equipment are not allowed to drive over the roots. If it does, the compact soil reduces available oxygen and kills roots.
Moreover, you should not remove or add soil under tree canopies. Consulting any certified arborist or looking for tree health management is the best option.
In addition to that, changing grades can also harm roots and weaken trees, sometimes killing them and making them highly susceptible to storm damage.
- Remove stakes early
Any tree allowed to sway in the wind develops a very strong trunk. Many times a new tree cannot stand on its own then you can use a two-stale system with a very loose, flexible tie in between so that you can support the trunk. But ensure to remove the stakes as soon as possible so that the tree can stand alone after a few times.
- Fertilize when required
Don’t think that trees need to be fed on an annual basis. Young trees indeed require occasional fertilizing until they are established, but they often need survival food if you talk about mature trees. But remember, feed only if trees are growing poorly or have yellow foliage.
Moreover, if you don’t know which nutrient is best for your tree, you must go for a soil test.
- Book checkups
Looking for tree management services to book an annual checkup will be the wise option for your tree’s health. The arborists of tree management companies are highly skilled, qualified, and experienced, and very well know what is the issue with the tree and tell the best solution to keep the tree healthy at the top.
Mulch properly
Mulching is another tree care step that needs to be done properly for the healthy growth of the tree. For that, apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch like pine straw or compost beneath the tree’s canopy. The benefit of mulch is that it cools the soil, conserves moisture, improves soil texture, and reduces weeds.
The bottom line
If you have a tree on your property, don’t rely on guesswork to decide if a tree will survive or not. Rather, looking for tree health management will be the right choice. The company team will evaluate the tree’s health and then decide whether it will again be healthy or need to be removed.
But while selecting any of the tree management companies, ensure they are certified in their work. I hope you liked this post on tree care suggestions to keep the tree in good condition.