Taking care of your trees is like an investment: well-maintained trees add value to your property and reduce the risk of damage to your home or business. Tree work requires specialized knowledge and expertise.
When hiring someone to perform tree work, it is important to inquire about their qualifications. It is also prudent to obtain multiple estimates.
Watering
Trees need water to create photosynthesis, transport nutrients and cool their leaves. They are prone to drought, and even a few weeks without a good soaking can lead to damage, decline, or insect infestation. While it is impossible to prevent drought, we can assist trees with the proper watering practices.
Newly planted trees require the most intensive care as they expend energy to establish roots in the soil. They need to be watered daily for the first two weeks following planting, and then weekly.
Watering is most effective when done in the early morning or at night. This allows the ground to absorb water during cooler temperatures and reduces evaporation, which can be a significant source of stress on young plants and trees.
Before watering, check the soil to make sure it is dry. Dig a few inches down to determine the moisture content. A layer of mulch can also help retain soil moisture and prevent overwatering (see Mulch Do’s and Don’ts).
When watering, it is important to get the water down to the root zone. A deep soaking is better than shallow watering as it will allow the roots to take up the moisture, rather than just sit in water. A soaker hose or bucket with holes drilled in the bottom is the preferred method of watering, but a sprinkler can be used.
Pruning
A big part of tree care is pruning, and it’s a critical preventative measure for trees that are in storm-prone areas. Preventive pruning removes dead branches that can fall and damage your home, children’s play structures, or power lines. It also promotes new growth and helps the tree retain its health.
Pruning is also the best time to remove diseased or insect-infested limbs because they can spread these issues to other limbs, or even to the entire tree. If you’re concerned about a particular tree on your property, work with your local tree service professional to have it checked out and pruned when needed.
Some shrubs can benefit from pruning as well, especially those with multiple stems like lilacs, forsythia, magnolias and azaleas. These shrubs are best pruned after they finish flowering and fruiting in spring, as they will then begin forming buds for the following year.
Lastly, pruning can help improve accessibility for walking or driving paths through your landscape, and it can clear obstructions like limbs hanging over homes or roads. When done by a professional, it can ensure the safety of people and vehicles, as well as free up traffic or visibility on sidewalks or streets. It can also keep your lawn and landscaping looking beautiful and organized. The best way to get the most out of your landscape is with regular Tree & Shrub treatments, but pruning can make a huge difference in keeping your trees healthy between those regularly scheduled services.
Insect Control
The best way to keep trees and shrubs healthy and resilient to insects and disease is through preventative treatments. However, if an insect or disease infestation does occur the root cause of the problem must be addressed as well. Otherwise, the pest or disease will likely return and attack the same tree again in the future or another nearby plant.
An arborist can help identify and treat the underlying cause of an insect infestation, rather than just treating the symptoms (e.g., wilting leaves, and holes in foliage). Proper pruning, watering, mulching, and cultural practices can all help to strengthen a tree, making it less susceptible to stress that can make it more vulnerable to insect and disease outbreaks.
A variety of mechanical and chemical controls are available to treat an insect infestation, depending on the type of insect and its life stage. For example, a swatting motion can dislodge many types of leaf-feeding pests (such as aphids) from plants. Sticky traps and barriers can also be effective for catching crawling insects. For more serious infestations, a spray treatment can be used on the trunks and branches of the affected tree to kill the insects.
The judicious use of biological control methods (such as encouraging good bugs that feed on pests) can be beneficial to both the environment and your tree’s health, while still providing adequate pest control for problematic insect species. For situations where pesticides are necessary, an experienced arborist can apply them effectively in a manner that minimizes harm to other organisms and the environment.
Disease Control
Many trees are vulnerable to diseases that impact their overall health. Infections like powdery mildew, anthracnose, and root rot can weaken a tree’s structure, inhibit its ability to photosynthesize and lead to premature death.
Disease mitigation is a complex task, but many strategies can help protect native forest species. A combination of cultural practices, such as watering and pruning, combined with soil management techniques can promote healthy tree roots that resist infection.
Homeowners can enhance their tree’s resistance by adding a layer of mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and reduce temperature extremes. Complementing fertilization with organic matter improves soil structure and nutrient availability, which fortifies the root system against pathogens.
Pruning plays a vital role in preventing diseases by eliminating dead or unhealthy branches. It also helps to open up airflow, which reduces moisture and disease risks. Proper pruning timing, during the dormant season, lowers the risk of disease spread.
Planting disease-resistant varieties is another important strategy. Choosing varieties with genetic resistance to specific threats can save homeowners money on costly removals and replacements. Scientists and horticulturists are continually working to develop new cultivars with enhanced disease resistance. Homeowners can use this information to guide their planting decisions and choose varieties that are suited to their local environmental conditions.
