Trees can provide your property with shade, give you a quiet place to spend warm summer afternoons, create a refuge for animals, and help make your home more welcoming. But trees are living things, and they need care and attention just like all plants and animals. The weather extremes in St Louis neighborhoods can take its toll on area trees. To keep a tree healthy, you need to make sure it gets enough water, sun, and nutrients, plus you need to be on top of pruning and pest control, so today’s discussion will be dedicated to tree care tips you can use today to keep your trees thriving.
Benefits of Planting Native Trees
Native trees offer a number of benefits and advantages, and there are many reasons why you should choose native species over non-native ones. For one, native species will grow more heartily in their natural habitats, meaning you’ll need less fertilizer and fewer pesticides to keep them healthy, and you won’t need to provide as much water since native trees will be adapted to local rainfall patterns. On top of requiring less maintenance and conserving water, native trees will also provide an excellent habitat for local wildlife and insects.
Providing Just the Right Amount of Water
Trees need water to survive, but just as drought is bad for trees, so too is overwatering. Your watering schedule will depend on the type of tree and the age, but here are some general rules:
- Water a tree as soon as you plant or transplant it
- Provide deep watering during dry summers for the first two years of a tree’s life
- Keep the soil moist—not soggy—to the roots when a tree is young
- After the first two years, the tree roots will be established and you won’t have to worry about providing the tree with as much water
Promoting Good Health with Mulch
Mulch is an excellent addition to the soil around your trees, but too much mulch can actually kill your trees. Mulch keeps the soil warm, helps the soil maintain moisture, protects the surrounding area from weeds and pests, improves the fertility of the soil, and prevents erosion.
After planting, sprinkle a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch that extends 4 to 5 feet out from the tree trunk. Pull the mulch away from the base of the tree, so there’s a ring of mulch-free area right around the trunk. This will prevent excess moisture, pests, and decay. Add more mulch every year to replenish what’s decomposed.
Problem Areas to Look For
There are many different factors that can indicate problems and poor health in trees. If you know what to look for, you’ll be able to treat disease, pests, and other issues before they become problems that could threaten the tree. Here are a few warning signs to look for:
- Unnatural yellowing of the leaves
- Leaves that are too small
- Holes in the leaves
- Curled leaves
- Dead branches, which should be removed immediately
- Broken branches, which can happen because of disease or injury
Inspect your trees regularly for these problems. If you find hazards such as dead or broken branches, remove them immediately if possible, or contact an arborist who can trim the tree for you. You should also call a tree expert if you discover signs of disease or pests.
Advantages of Professional Tree Trimming
Tree trimming is a job that requires knowledge, skills, and care because poor pruning can damage a tree for life, or make the tree vulnerable to insects, viruses, and pests. When you hire a professional for tree trimming, you’re guaranteed that the job will be done right.
A professional arborist will remove hazardous branches, improve the aesthetics of the tree, promote growth, and prevent damage, all while keeping safety and the health of the tree as priority number one. Moreover, pruning trees can be dangerous work, and a tree expert will have all the right training and equipment to do the job safely.
If you need help with pruning, want more tree care tips, or discover any signs of disease, pests, or damage, the tree experts at Jackson Tree Service are here to help. We can handle tree removals, trimming, bracing, pests, and much more, and will do everything possible to ensure that your trees live a long and healthy life and that your family and your property are safe from things like falling branches and other tree-related hazards.