How To Care for Trees

Prevent your trees from becoming severe risks to your property and wellbeing. By knowing how to care for your trees, you can keep them thriving for decades.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered the following information to assist you in caring for your trees from the time you plant them until their maturity and beyond.

Tree Care – Planting

Placing “the right tree in the right place” is your first act of caring for your tree and will determine much of how the tree grows and whether you will have years of joy and shade or multiple problems and expenses. Consider the following information when selecting the species and location of your tree:

Tree Species – When selecting the species of the tree you’d like to plant, the following will help you choose the right species:

• Will the species tolerate your region’s hardiness zone?
• Is the species known for invasive roots?
• Is the tree an overstory or understory?
• Does the tree need full or partial sun?
• Is the tree tolerant to regional pests and diseases?
• Is the tree deciduous or evergreen?

To determine your USDA Hardiness Zone, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx

Tree Location – As a tree grows, it can’t get up and move if its location becomes inconvenient. When selecting a location to plant your tree, use the following to guide your decision:

• Are there power lines running over the location?
• Are there utility lines running under the location?
• Are there sidewalks, driveways, or structures nearby that could be damaged by invasive roots?
• Does the location receive full or partial sun?
• Is the location well-drained, or does water pool?

Read more about selecting a tree species and a location to plant it at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/tree-planting-location-landscape-species

Tree Care – Watering

Lack of water can cause your tree to wilt, suffer hydraulic failure, and die. To keep your tree in outstanding health, there must be a regular watering schedule that meets the needs of the tree. The following will help you determine how often to water your tree:

• Water your tree three times per week
• One of the three should be a deep watering (this will encourage the roots to grow deep)
• Water the entire root plate (the root plate grows outward and is typically the same size as the tree’s crown)
• During times of drought or intense heat, give your tree two deep waterings per week
• When rainfall is plentiful, reduce the frequency of waterings

The soil around your tree must be well-drained. If water remains pooled after rainfall or waterings, your soil must be adjusted to allow proper draining. Reduce the frequency of waterings until the soil is improved.

Tip: The continuous application of organic mulch can help your soil structure maintain proper drainage properties.

Tree Care – Mulching

When organic mulch is applied correctly around your tree, it can improve soil quality and regulate both soil moisture and temperature. Consider the following when mulching your tree:

• Apply a layer of organic mulch 3 to 6 inches deep over the entire root plate
• Keep mulch pulled back 2 to 3 inches from the tree trunk and root flare (this will help prevent problems with decay, disease, and nesting wildlife)
• Fluff the mulch when it compresses and add more when necessary
• Remove and replace mulch when it becomes riddled with mold

Organic mulch can be from a compost pile, straw, or wood chips.

Tree Care – Fertilizing

At times, the soil around your tree may need to have its chemical composition and pH level adjusted.

For trees that grow in acidic soil, the pH level should be 6.5 or less, for those preferring a base soil, the level should be 7.5 or above. Soil with a pH of 7.0 (6.5 – 7.5) is considered neutral.

Soil pH levels can be adjusted using phosphoric acid or sulfur to make them more acidic. While limestone, organic mulch, or wood ash will reduce the soil’s acidity. Many brands of fertilizer contain one or a combination of the above to adjust soil pH levels.

Frequently, the missing or deficient element in soil is nitrogen, and as such, the vast majority of fertilizers contain it.

Read more about fertilizing trees at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/fertilization-basics-healthier-trees

Tip: Tree fertilization should be done in fall (after the growing season) or late winter (before the beginning of the next growing season)

Tree Care – Pruning

Small tree branches can be pruned whenever they present problems at any time of the year. Large branches – branches comprising over 5-10% of the tree’s crown volume – should only be pruned in winter when the tree is dormant. Trees should never be pruned in autumn since the air is filled with diseases and decay fungi.

There are many reasons to cut tree limbs; they might be diseased or dead, they could be rubbing against other limbs, or they are competing with other branches and have to be removed.

Raising or thinning the canopy is another reason for limb removal. This is done to open the canopy to more sunlight or provide additional vertical clearance.

Read more about pruning and cutting trees at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/when-tree-pruning-cutting-emergency-removal-atlanta-ga

Annual Tree Inspections

Your tree(s) should be inspected by a professional tree service annually to detect any problems with abnormal growth, infestations, or disease.

This type of inspection is also known as a tree hazard assessment. It is used by arborists to determine whether or not any actions should be taken to improve the health and safety of the tree.

Tree Removal

There are times when the best course of action is to remove your tree. The following may require your tree to be removed to protect your landscape and surrounding trees:

• Boring insect infestations
• Infectious tree diseases
• Severe storm damage
• Severe root damage or rot
• Leaning tree
• Root damage to surrounding structures

If you suspect that your tree should be removed, contact a professional tree service to evaluate the situation and recommend the best course of action. Sometimes, the best way to care for your trees is to eliminate the ones that could compromise the health and vigor of the others.

Caring for Trees

In this article, you discovered many ways to care for your trees from the time you plant them until their maturity.

By promoting the health of your trees, you enable them to grow strong and resist attacks by disease and insects.

Neglecting the care of your trees will lead to abnormal growth and potential death by disease and infestation.

Sources:
treesaregood.org/treeowner/plantingatree
extension.uga.edu/county-offices/glynn/agriculture-and-natural-resources/commercial-landscaping-112.html
extension.sdstate.edu/tree-watering-tips-drought-conditions
pollinators.msu.edu/sites/_pollinators/assets/File/NWF_Trees-for-Wildlife_Tree-planting-Group.pdf

Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

Fast Tree Removal Services Dunwoody

2111 Peachford Cir, Dunwoody, GA 30338
(404) 220-9963

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/how-to-care-for-trees

How to Protect Trees in Winter

Summer is over and with it goes the growing season for trees. As cold weather quickly approaches, now is the time to help your trees prepare for the winter months.

By lending a hand to your trees in the fall, they will suffer less winter damage, making them more resistant to disease and infestation in the spring and summer months ahead.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered essential information and tips for both evergreen and deciduous winter tree care, including information on dormancy, deep watering, tree wrapping, pruning, and other preparations for the coming winter season.

Deep Water Your Trees in the Fall

All of your tree’s roots are on a continual march to supply water and nutrients to the tree above. They can spread 2 to 3 times the size of the canopy, and given the right soil and moisture conditions, they will grow very deep.

During the fall months, those same roots begin collecting and storing water for the coming winter months when water is often unavailable or unable to penetrate the ground.

Throughout fall and right up to the first freeze, give your trees a weekly deep watering. Deep waterings are generally defined as allowing enough water flow to saturate the top eight to ten inches of soil.

Mulching Protects Roots from Dying

Mulching is beneficial in many ways. It naturally curbs the growth of weeds, adds nutrients to the ground as it decomposes, and more importantly helps the soil maintain warmth and moisture.

Fall is the perfect time to mulch your trees with a 3 to four-inch layer of organic mulch start at the base of the tree (without covering the root flare) and extending to the tree’s dripline. If there is an existing layer of matted mulch, it should be fluffed or removed before adding another layer.

The combination of deep watering with proper mulching is one of the most significant advantages you can offer your tree in its fight to remain healthy.

Dormancy Is How Trees Prepare Themselves for Winter

Sometime back in mid to late summer, your trees stopped growing. They naturally did this to allow their new growth time to mature or “harden” before winter.

As temperatures begin to fall, another internal trigger is about to go off. The leaves of deciduous trees will start to change color and eventually drop to the ground signaling their entry into dormancy.

While evergreens do not lose all of their foliage, they do slow down during winter months and will benefit just as much from your fall assistance.

Tree Pruning During Dormancy

The safest time of year to prune your trees is in late fall once your trees have gone dormant. Pruning at this time allows you to remove unwanted, damaged, or dead growth while encouraging future spring growth.

As the threat of insect infestation and fungal infections are significantly reduced in late fall, your biggest concern is making sure that the cuts are made properly so the tree can compartmentalize the wound and heal itself quickly.

Read Ideal Times for Tree Pruning, Cutting and Emergency Tree Removal then watch this video to see how a proper pruning cut is made.

Winter Protection for Young Trees

Recently planted trees, especially those that are not native to your region require special attention. As it may take a tree several seasons to acclimate itself to its location, the following should be done to protect it from winter elements.

Deep watering through the fall
Mulching from the trunk’s root flare to the dripline
Trunk wrapping
Wrapping trees in burlap

Burlap coverings are placed around evergreen shrubs and trees in the winter to protect them from the sun and wind. A frame or stakes should be used to prevent as much contact with the foliage as possible.

Read 3 Tips for Young Trees – Pruning, Tree Care and Protection then watch this video to see how easy it is to apply trunk wrapping.

People Also Ask

Q: Should I Water New Trees in Winter?
A1: Yes – during mild or extremely dry winters. Deep watering once a month will help get moisture to the roots.
A2: No – if the ground is frozen or there’s significant moisture or snowfall.

Q: Why do you wrap a tree in burlap?
A: Burlap effectively protects plants from winter burn which is a combination of direct sunlight, wind, and low soil moisture. Burlap allows the tree to breathe and doesn’t trap heat which makes it much more desirable than plastic or other materials.

Q: Can a tree freeze to death?
A: Yes. But very unlikely. While half of a tree’s mass is water, trees won’t entirely freeze. Trees alter their living cell membranes to be more pliable, allowing water to evacuate the cells and rest between them.

Protecting Trees in Winter

As this winter season and dormancy approach, knowing how to water, prune, wrap, and protect your trees will help them emerge stronger and healthier in the spring.

In this article, you’ve learned about deep watering in the fall, and how mulching preserves warmth and moisture for roots. Also covered was when and how pruning should take place, how to protect young trees, and some of the common questions other tree owners are asking.

By leaving a tree to fend for itself during the winter months, you are risking the decline of its health, infestation, illness, and ultimately, its death. Dead, dying, or weakened trees may fall at any time posing a tremendous risk to your property and to your physical safety.

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Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

To view the orignal version of this post, visit: http://www.fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/how-to-protect-trees-in-winter