Caring For Your Trees

Plant a tree and nature will take care of the rest, right? Not necessarily. The trees in our yards, neighborhoods, and along our streets are a valuable asset, and require our help to keep them healthy. Proper tree care is based on science and research, not wives tales and myths. There is a “right way” and a “wrong way” to care for trees. Here are some tips you need to know to keep your trees healthy and working for you.

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Keeping Your Trees Healthy

Start by planting the right tree in the right place. Where space is limited, such as under power lines, select tree species that have a mature height of 20-30 feet.
Mulch around your trees to reduce compaction; protect soils from drying out, and to keep lawn mowers and string trimmers from wounding the bark. Use a ring of wood chip 2-4 inches deep, and don’t pile it up on the trunk - that can hurt the tree causing decay and rot to enter the trunk.
Water your trees. Especially during droughts and when they are newly planted. A young tree will need about 10 gallons of water per week during the hot summer months.
Leave the roots alone. Avoid cutting roots or changing the grade and burying roots, which will slowly kill a tree.
Always prune your trees properly or hire a qualified (ISA Certified) arborist to prune your trees according to ANSI-A300 National Tree Pruning Standards.

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