Due to the fact that each individual tree is in it’s own unique situation, ranking these helpful tips is difficult at best. Each is important, but may not directly relate to your specific tree at this time, so this list is in no particular order.
1. Ensure proper planting. Improper planting is a death sentence from the time a new tree is placed in the ground. Planting too deep and girdling roots are the two most common factors resulting from improper planting which kill trees before they reach maturity.
2. Prevent Construction Damage. Soil compaction, root system damage from digging and trenching, damage to the root flare and trunk from heavy equipment, and suffocation from grade changes are all common construction damage. Only proper planning and execution can help prevent and mitigate the damage which invariably occurs in the construction process. Hiring an arborist to protect your trees BEFORE construction begins can save you alot of money, and the beautiful trees that are part of the reason you selected that spot for your home or development. The effects of construction damage usually are not apparent for five or more years, but when it becomes obvious it’s often too late.
3. Have young trees professionally pruned. This is a very often overlooked, very important part of quality tree care. Pruning done to young trees, and even saplings, is always less expensive and less damaging to the tree than trimming a mature tree. Many problems which mature trees exhibit (and the cost of correction or removal) can be avoided by proper pruning when the tree is young. Examples of these problems are: Included bark junctions – which cause trees to split, poor structure – which results in weaker trees which fail more easily and more dead wood as the tree ages, decay and rot – which happen when we make large cuts on mature trees, and co-dominant stems which fail more often than single stem trees.
4. Mulch the critical root zone. Mulching with organic mulch is beneficial to the tree in many ways. Moisture conservation for the root zone, temperature moderation, protection from mower and trimmer damage, soil improvement, and reduction of competing plants are all important benefits we can provide for our trees, with minimal effort and expense. Mulching must be done correctly to provide these benefits. Improper mulching can cause a whole new set of problems.
5. Pay attention to your trees. Even if you only spend 3 or 5 minutes per tree every other month, a quick visual inspection of the canopy, limbs, trunk, and root flare can provide clues that a problem exists. Early detection of fungal, bacterial, or insect problems will allow for far greater chances of success in treatment of the problem. Some signals you should be looking for are (in no particular order) tip dieback, smaller than normal or off color leaves, small borer holes and the sawdust they leave behind, trunk or root flare wounds, mushrooms or fungi growing at the base of the tree or on the trunk or limbs, and broken or hanging limbs. Any of these symptoms should prompt a call to a tree care professional as quickly as possible.
6. Fertilize only after soil testing to identify deficiencies. Over fertilization is a significant stressor of trees. Trees and their root systems are far more complex than turf grass, and require the correct ranges of elements in the soil to grow to thier optimum. Too much potassium, phosphorus, and especially nitrogen is as bad as not enough, so a soil test should be performed before fertilization to find out what the soil needs. Excess nitrogen in the soil invites fungal and insect problems. Fertilization of an already stressed or struggling tree could ultimately be the final nail in the coffin.
7. Choose the right tree for the spot. The location of structures, electric lines, sewers, foundations and driveways should all be considered when choosing where to plant. Making the selection of what kind of tree to plant for that spot is also of prime importance. Consider nuts, seeds, and fruit or litter that the tree may drop, and the effort you’ll have to put into ground maintenance. Also consider the growth characteristics of the tree you intend to plant. Will it get too big for a small spot? Or remain too small for the purpose you desire? Will it get enough water in that spot, or too much? Does it need full sun, or prefer partial shade? Many questions should be addressed before planting time in order to maximize enjoyment and minimize expense from your trees.
8. Hire a competent professional. Wether you need tree trimming, tree planting, or plant health care, hiring the wrong person for the job can worsen the situation at your expense or receive no benefit for the incurred costs. Ask questions, and verify the answers through another source. Tree care is basically an unregulated industry. Skill levels vary a great deal from person to person and company to company, and clients who hire contractors without doing their homework are often disappointed in the outcome. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) is the order of the day, and second chances are hard to come by when it comes to trees.
Tree Solutions is proud to offer quality care to help you maintain your trees, and we welcome your questions and comments on everything tree related. We don’t know everything there is to know by any means, but we strive to learn more every day to become even more efficient in solving your tree problems with quality Tree Solutions.