The Importance of Tree Care

Tree Care involves all aspects of maintaining the appearance and vitality of trees on your property. It begins with proper species selection and installation, and moves on to regular monitoring and proactive addressing of potential problems. A healthy plant has the best chance of resisting disease, pests, and storm damage. It’s often a case of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.

Pruning is one of the most important activities you can perform to keep your trees in good condition and promote their overall health. Proper pruning helps your trees stay structurally sound, and promotes growth in the areas where it is most desirable. Tree trimming also helps reduce the risk of failure, such as from storm damage or structural defects like codominant stems (where two or more stems grow upward from the same point on a branch).

When done properly, mulching around trees protects the bark and roots from compaction and erosion. It is a simple and effective measure that can greatly extend the life of your trees. Mulching also keeps weeds and grasses from competing with the root systems for water and nutrients, thus minimizing the need to use herbicides which can be harmful to tree health.

Maintaining a 2- to 3-foot wide mulched area also prevents lawn mowers from bumping into trunks and causing damage. Bumping into the base of a tree can cause irreparable damage to the trunk and bark, leaving it susceptible to rot or insect infestation. It can also lead to the spread of disease.

Proper soil conditions are also crucial for the long-term health and beauty of your trees. Soil testing can provide a snapshot of the soil’s nutrient levels, and help identify deficiencies or imbalances that need correcting. The judicious application of organic and reduced-risk materials, such as horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, and nematodes can be effective in controlling damaging insects and mites.

Regular inspections of your trees and shrubs is an important part of tree care, especially after a storm. Injured or dead limbs can fall during a storm and damage property, or pose a safety hazard for people or pets. Damaged limbs can also take out powerlines and create fire or electrical hazards. In addition, overgrown limbs can break or fall during storms and impose significant costs for homeowners.

Regular pruning also makes it easier to spot the early signs of disease. For example, thinning a dense canopy will allow sunlight and air to reach the inner branches, which can help minimize fungus problems. It will also eliminate the need to trim limbs that rub against each other, which can result in disease and breakage. It is recommended to prune your trees in late winter or early spring, prior to bud break.

from TLC Trees and Co https://ift.tt/yNn1UQY