Tree care encompasses everything arborists do to keep trees healthy and beautiful. They work safely to provide services like pruning, planting, and removal, utilizing advanced equipment and techniques.
Proper species selection, site installation, and monitoring throughout the growing season are critical to plant health. However, once a tree is installed, the focus shifts to proactively identifying and preventing problems before they arise.
Watering
Insufficient watering is one of the most common causes of tree death and decline. Providing the right amount of water at the best time of day is crucial. Watering at night or early in the morning minimizes evaporation and allows trees to absorb water most efficiently.
The depth of the soil can also affect how much water a tree needs. For example, soil that is sand or gravelly may need less water than a clay-based soil. It is important to know your soil in detail so you can provide the necessary amount of water for the right location.
Wind can also impact a tree’s need for water. Windy conditions cause moisture to evaporate from the leaves and soil more quickly than calm conditions. This can lead to stress, and even dehydration, in some species of trees.
Watering trees properly will help them become more resilient to drought and other environmental stressors. It can also help reduce the incidence of abiotic problems like root rot and fungus.
Newly planted trees should be watered daily for the first two weeks after planting. Afterward, they should be watered every other day for another two months until they are established. After that, they can be watered weekly, if needed.
Fertilizing
In order to survive and thrive, trees need three essential things: sunlight, water and nutrients. Most people understand that they need to provide their trees with sunlight and water, but what many people don’t know is that the same applies for nutrients.
Trees need to be fed on a regular basis to keep them healthy and strong. Some experts recommend fertilizing on an annual basis to keep your trees in good health, claiming that this will help them resist stressors like disease and pests.
However, over-fertilization can also harm your plants. It can lead to the production of extra shoots and leaves, which uses up a lot of the tree’s energy that could otherwise go toward root growth. It can also lead to a shorter lifespan for the plant and increase its susceptibility to drought and other environmental factors.
When choosing a tree fertilizer, look for one that is specifically designed to meet the needs of your particular plant. Some experts recommend using a soil testing kit to see what nutrients your soil may be lacking. Once you have the results, choose a fertilizer that is best for your trees, such as a slow-release or one formulated for fruit-bearing trees. When applying the fertilizer, be sure to follow the directions on the label to avoid over-fertilization. To determine the amount of fertilizer needed, you can use either the diameter at breast height method or the area method (square footage). The square foot method is preferred, as it helps prevent over-fertilization.
Pruning
While several factors can contribute to how well trees weather storms, proper pruning is one of the most important. Overgrown trees, have dead branches, or have become diseased are much more likely to fall during stormy weather, potentially injuring people and damaging property.
Trees are trimmed for many reasons, including deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or redirecting growth), improving or sustaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for transplanting and increasing the yield and quality of flowers and fruits. When done correctly, pruning enhances the beauty and value of your landscape while helping to prevent future problems with plants and trees on your property.
When a plant is pruned, it can take a while for the wound to callous over. Because of this, it is important to make only clean cuts, avoiding cutting into the cambium layer of the trunk or stalk of the plant.
Other types of pruning include thinning which involves removing large quantities of branches to manage the size and shape of a plant; raising which is the practice of trimming lower-hanging branches to create headspace for walkways, cars and people; and topping which is a huge undertaking that removes almost all of a tree’s canopy, requiring the use of a chainsaw. Additionally, some plants like lilacs and forsythia need to be deadheaded to prevent seeding or extend their blooms.
Removal
In some cases, a tree may need to be removed due to its poor health or location. Trees that have been damaged by storms, weakened from disease or insect infestation, or otherwise compromised may pose a safety risk to people and property.
Overcrowded trees can also benefit from removal, allowing more sunlight and space for other vegetation to thrive. Additionally, the removal of dead or dying trees can help to prevent soil erosion and contamination from leaking into local water sources.
Trees can also provide valuable habitat to native wildlife species. By attracting wildlife and limiting the spread of pests, they can contribute to healthy ecosystems.
Lastly, the roots of some trees can damage sidewalks and foundations, and they can cause problems with underground utilities and buildings. A professional tree service should evaluate the situation and recommend the best solution.
Many homeowners are reluctant to hire a tree service for removal work, but they should be aware of the risks involved. Not only can improper removal techniques lead to costly damages, but it can also put the lives of workers at risk. The best way to avoid these hazards is to hire an ISA certified arborist. These professionals are trained to follow ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and other industry standards for safe removal and pruning procedures.