Trees add beauty and value to your property. They also require routine maintenance to thrive.
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Avoid common tree care mistakes such as staking new trees, overwatering, and removing bark. In addition, check that lawn equipment is kept away from root zones.
Preventative Care
A well-maintained tree adds value and beauty to your property. It’s also a crucial element in providing shade and increasing the oxygen levels of your home. In contrast, a neglected tree can become brittle and pose a significant safety hazard to your home and family. Preventative care is a great way to keep trees healthy, and can prevent disease, pest infestations, and premature tree death.
Preventative maintenance includes a regular inspection of a tree to check for any problems that might arise. Arborists start by looking at the general appearance of a tree, taking note of any discoloration or unusual growth patterns. Additionally, they will look for any cracks or holes in the trunk, as these can indicate structural damage or a serious problem.
Other signs of an impending problem include a decline in foliage or a slowed rate of growth. These symptoms may be a sign of an insect or fungal infestation, and should be assessed immediately. Arborists can perform a variety of preventative services, such as pruning and fungicide treatments, to address these issues before they become too severe.
Another important aspect of preventative tree maintenance is soil management. This includes the use of mulch, compost, and deep root fertilization, all of which can improve the overall health of a tree by improving its nutrient availability. In addition, supplemental watering during times of drought can help trees and shrubs avoid the stress of dehydration.
Finally, a preventative tree service can include things like the use of fungi and microbes that are effective against a wide range of pests. These organisms can be sprayed directly onto a tree to effectively fight off pests and diseases, without harming the surrounding ecosystem.
Pruning
Pruning is a necessary component of regular maintenance for all trees and shrubs. It encourages new growth, manages overgrowth, promotes plant health and enhances the beauty of the landscape.
Trees that are not pruned can become overcrowded and unhealthy, leading to disease and insect problems. In addition, overgrown limbs can be dangerous as they can fall and cause damage.
A good pruning strategy will keep the canopy of your trees open for sunlight penetration and air circulation, which reduces fungal diseases and helps to manage the overall growth of a tree or shrub. Proper pruning can also help to prevent damage from wind or snow and can remove dead limbs before they become a hazard.
For fruit trees, proper pruning can increase the yield and quality of the fruits produced as well as improve the health and vigor of the tree itself. This is done by removing old, dead, damaged, crossing or competing limbs.
When removing a branch, be sure to cut close to the branch or twig that it is attached to to minimize wounding and encourage healing. Avoid using pruning paint or tar, which can prevent the closure of the wound and provide an entry point for insects and diseases.
The best time to prune is in winter or early spring before buds swell and the bark begins to grow. This will keep the wounds from becoming susceptible to decay microorganisms. It is recommended that a professional arborist be used for pruning larger, more complex or higher risk trees. After pruning, it is a good idea to water the tree to stimulate root growth and promote new foliage development. This is especially important on sandy soils and in drought conditions.
Insect Control
Trees need routine care to prevent disease, insect infestation, and other problems. Arboricultural techniques like pruning, trimming, and felling are used to maintain or improve the health, appearance, and vitality of woody plants in built environments.
Proper site selection, species selection, planting, and installation are key components of tree and shrub care. After a plant is installed, proper watering and pruning are critical for healthy growth. Identifying and managing stressors is another essential part of tree care, such as soil conditions or environmental factors. The guiding principle of tree care is an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Insect control is one of the most important aspects of tree maintenance. Invasive pests like the emerald ash borer can wipe out entire communities of trees in an area, so regular inspection and monitoring is essential. Proper monitoring will help you catch an infestation early, when it is easier to eradicate.
One of the best tools to prevent insects is a spray application. For example, a light coating of dormant oil applied in spring can protect plants from damaging pests as they come out of winter dormancy but before bud break. Similarly, fungicide treatments can also be used to preempt fungal diseases before they start spreading.
When selecting a professional for tree care, ask for references and to see examples of their work. Additionally, check that the professional is licensed by your state’s department of agriculture. Licensing doesn’t necessarily imply proficiency, but it’s a good indicator that the professional has met minimum safety standards. Lastly, it’s always wise to invest in insurance that covers liability for personal and property damage as well as worker’s compensation.
Disease Control
Diseases affect the vascular system of the tree, preventing nutrient and water uptake. They can be caused by fungal pathogens, bacteria or viruses and are categorized as foliar, stem, and root diseases. Disease symptoms are typically visible and include splotches, spots, lesions, sunken areas, cankers, catfaces and scars on twigs and branches, or death of parts or all of the tree.
Many of the foliar diseases are weather-based and there is not much that can be done to prevent them. However, pruning to remove infected twigs and branches can help reduce spread of the disease. Stem and root diseases are more complex, as they are generally lethal to portions or all of the tree. However, by using IPM, a combination of cultural sanitation methods and chemical control, trees with severe disease can be saved.
Fungi that infect the phloem of the tree cause root diseases, such as root rots or crown blights. This type of infection kills the tree and can impact its ability to take up moisture, leading to wilting. It can also make the tree more susceptible to pests such as bark beetles and wood borers.
When a large portion of the tree appears dead, this may indicate that it is infected with a fungal disease such as oak wilt or emerald ash borer (EAB). An experienced arborist can visually inspect a property and advise clients on the best course of action. If necessary, they will rake and destroy the contaminated leaves to avoid re-inoculation of the trees in the fall. They can also help with disease monitoring and risk assessment to ensure that all tree health issues are addressed before they become serious problems.
Removal
Tree removal is a tricky and dangerous project that’s best left to the professionals. Attempting to take down a large or problematic tree without the proper tools, equipment, and training can result in costly property damage and injuries. Even for small trees, it’s generally not worth the risk.
It’s important to be aware that, although you might have the right to remove a particular tree on your own property, most local governments have laws and ordinances about when it’s legal to cut down trees, and they may consider them public property regardless of whether they’re on private land or not. Additionally, some species of trees (such as oaks) are protected by law and cannot be removed or damaged, so it’s important to check with your local government about these restrictions before taking action.
There are times when a tree must be removed, whether it’s unhealthy or damaged beyond repair. For example, a weakened or dead tree is a serious safety hazard during storms and can cause damage to homes and property if it falls, so it’s usually best to have it removed before it becomes a problem. In addition, some trees are planted in poor locations and have outgrown their space, encroaching on sidewalks, power lines, or other structures. In these cases, it’s often necessary to remove the tree to prevent damage or safety issues.
When it’s time to remove a tree, a tree service will start by making a “felling cut” near the base of the trunk, using a series of cuts to guide the tree’s fall in a controlled way. Workers must be careful to stay aware of their surroundings at all times to avoid any accidents, and they will typically use a crane to lower large limbs to the ground safely after cutting them.