When I first bought a new house, I realized that the front trees were a little overgrown. I was worried about a branch breaking in the wind and smashing into a window or the roof, and so I decided to invest in professional tree service. When the arborist came, he had more concerns than just a few overgrown branches. Apparently, a few of my trees had also developed serious pest infestations, and I was worried about what it might mean for their health. He carefully trimmed each tree to ward off disease, and within a few weeks, they were looking a lot better. This blog explains how a professional tree trimmer could help you, so that you aren't left with dying trees.
Keeping Your Trees Healthy
Spring Tree Care Tips
Joshua Mercier
With the coming of spring comes lawn and garden chores. This is also the best time to make sure all of your landscape trees are doing well and ready to start their annual growth cycle in peak health. The following tips can help you with spring tree care.
Tip #1: Trim for health and structure
Just before the buds break is the time to prune your trees, with the exception of spring flowering varieties (trim these after they flower). Cut out any winter damaged branches. Follow this up with structural cuts. These are made to ensure the branches are well balanced around the tree and not overcrowded. Also, remove any branches that connect to the trunk at an angle greater than 90 degrees or one narrower than 45 degrees, as these will be weak and prone to breakage.
Tip #2: Lay some mulch
If you don't have grass growing beneath your trees, lay mulch. Mulch covers bare soil so that moisture doesn't evaporate too quickly and surface tree roots are protected. Bark or wood chips work well for trees. If you already have weed issues beneath the trees, begin by weeding the area thoroughly and then laying a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch. Finish by pulling the mulch back so it isn't resting directly against the trunk of the tree.
Tip #3: Fertilize if necessary
There is no hard and fast rule for fertilization that applies to all tree varieties and soil types. If your trees are doing well and are healthy, then chances are the amount of nutrients they are receiving is sufficient. Spreading a thin layer, perhaps an inch deep, of compost around the tree will help improve soil and tree health. If you are concerned about your tree's health, perform soil testing. This will tell you what nutrients are missing that your tree needs, which you can then provide via fertilization.
Tip #4: Adjust your sprinklers
Spring is also the time for testing your sprinkler system. When doing so, make sure the sprinklers aren't hitting the tree trunk or lower branches. The water spray against the trunk can cause bark damage or lead to fungal issues. A hard spray on leaves can knock them off or lead to fungal growth on the moist foliage. You can switch out the sprinkler heads to some that spray lower so that the tree isn't hit directly by the water.
For more help, contact a tree care professional in your area such as General Tree Service.
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