Tree Care – Keeping Your Trees and Shrubs Healthy and Beautiful

Tree care is the process of keeping trees and shrubs healthy and beautiful. It begins with choosing the right species for the space, and ends with identifying problems that may develop, preventing them before they happen, and treating them effectively to keep your plants vibrant and healthy.

Pruning is a good way to manage the health of your trees. This is an annual activity that promotes growth, removes dead or diseased branches and shapes the tree for the best possible appearance.

During pruning, it’s important to remove any large branches that are growing in an unfavorable direction or are too close to the trunk. Removing these weak and undesirable branches will allow more energy to be directed toward the strongest limbs that will support the structure of the tree.

Properly pruning also prevents branches from breaking during storms or becoming tangled around power lines and utility poles. This helps keep the tree safe from potential damage and keeps it well away from your house or buildings.

The best time to prune your trees is during the dormant season and before new growth starts in spring. If you do it too late, the tree will have to rely on the previous year’s growth for support and be more susceptible to wind damage during storms.

A seasoned professional can assess your trees and advise you on what type of pruning will best benefit them. This can include formative pruning to shape the tree for better structure, or structural pruning to control branches that grow toward your property or interfere with utilities.

Mulching is another important part of tree care. It insulates tree roots, reduces weed competition, conserves moisture and improves soil texture. Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch under the canopy, about 4-6 inches away from the base of the trunk.

Fertilize your trees as needed to give them the nutrients they need to thrive. You don’t need to fertilize young trees every year, but mature trees may require some additional nutrition to stay healthy and green. A soil test will help you determine the exact amounts of nutrients your trees need and how much to apply.

Check your trees regularly for signs of pest infestations and dead or dying branches. This is the best way to ensure the continued health of your trees and minimize the likelihood of a problem occurring in the future.

It is also a great idea to have your trees checked by a professional arborist on a regular basis, especially after a storm. This will help prevent a serious problem that could end up costing you more money in repairs and insurance costs down the road.

ISA certified arborists have specialized training and certification, which means they are trained to use equipment safely and perform work according to standards. They also have the necessary liability insurance to cover their expenses should they be injured while working on your property.

Trees in urban settings are faced with unique challenges like salt, vehicle damage, compacted soils and limited space. They also face additional threats from insect pests, diseases and environmental conditions such as air pollution and dust. This can mean that the life of an urban tree is shorter than in a natural setting. With proper care, urban trees can live longer and be less costly to maintain.

source https://bigrivertreeservices1.wordpress.com/2023/04/27/tree-care-keeping-your-trees-and-shrubs-healthy-and-beautiful/