The Dos and Don’ts of Tree Health
Trees are vital to a healthy environment. They provide shade, absorb carbon emissions, and so much more! But trees can’t be left to fend for themselves, especially in the face of climate change. You need to pay attention to their needs if you want them around for many years—and not just when it’s time for spring pruning or leaf cleanup. Here are a few dos and don’ts of tree health.
Do Schedule Regular Tree Care Maintenance
- schedule regular tree care maintenance
- find a good arborist
- choose the right arborist for you and your trees
If you’ve read this far, it’s probably because you’re concerned about your trees. Don’t worry—you’re not alone! Trees are an essential part of our ecosystem and deserve proper care. To help ensure that they remain healthy and long-lived, it is necessary to make sure they receive expert attention regularly. This means finding a qualified arborist who can give them the attention they need to thrive.
How often should one visit their local arborist? The answer depends on various factors such as the tree being cared for, its age and health status (watering conditions), its location (wind exposure), etc.
Don’t Ignore Dead or Broken Branches
Dead branches can be a sign of other problems, and they can signal the need for the tree to be pruned or removed. Dead branches are also an eyesore and pose a safety hazard if they fall on your home or property.
Additionally, dead wood can attract insects and disease-carrying pests like wasps and bees. Finally, they provide easy access to nesting sites for birds and other animals like squirrels, who may use your house as their playground!
Do Provide Proper Water and Nutrients
The first thing to do is to provide proper water and nutrients. Water trees when they are dry if needed, and don’t overwater them. A good rule of thumb is to give your tree 2 inches of water per week during the growing season (spring, summer, and fall) and 1 inch every two weeks during the winter months.
Another way to tell if you’re watering enough is by looking at the soil near the trunk; when it’s dry enough to see roots, consider watering again until the next time you can see the roots.
In addition to providing adequate water, you should also ensure that your trees have access to plenty of nutrients so their roots can grow strong enough to survive and thrive!
Don’t Leave Tree Pests and Damage Untreated
You may have heard the term “tree pests” and wondered what it means. Tree pests are insects, mites, fungi, bacteria, and other tiny organisms that cause damage to trees. They suck sap from the tree, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop off. They burrow into stems causing dead branches on the tree. Other injuries caused by tree pests include bark beetles that bore into a branch or trunk and then lay eggs, which hatch into larvae that feed on woody tissue inside your tree. The larvae then chew their way out of the damaged area, leaving holes behind when they pupate (form new adults).
If you want to keep your trees healthy and vibrant for years to come—treat any injury immediately! Any time you see signs of disease or pest infestation, you must act quickly with proper treatment before severe damage occurs. You can prevent infestations by…
- watering regularly during dry spells so moisture remains in the soil around the roots
- Removing debris under decks where rodents live
- sealing cracks in foundation/flooring where insects enter a home/building
- pruning back limbs, overhanging houses/buildings, and garden beds containing flowers/vegetables.
Do Get Professional Tree Care Help When Needed
If you find yourself with an unhealthy tree, don’t try to take on the job yourself. You may think a DIY solution is the most cost-effective option, but it can cost you more money if things go wrong. It takes years of training and experience to identify tree issues, determines whether they need immediate attention, and determine appropriate treatments.
Don’t Plant Trees Too Close to Structures
Too often, people plant trees within 15 feet of buildings and other structures. While this may seem like a good idea at the time, it can lead to problems in the future. Trees need plenty of room to grow and spread their roots, and planting them too close together or too close to a building will limit their growth potential and increase the likelihood that falling limbs from another tree will damage one tree.
If you’re concerned about how much space you have for your trees, consider consulting our ISA-certified arborist, who can help determine what tree is suitable for your area and how much space each would require based on its mature size.
Call SB Tree Service for All of Your Tree Care Needs
The best way to keep trees healthy is to give them the care they need from trained professionals who take tree care seriously. Tree health is not only about the tree itself but also about its overall ecosystem—the people who use and benefit from it and those who live around it. With this in mind, the proper treatment for a sick tree must consider all these factors.
Trees need care just like any other living thing, so if your tree is struggling for some reason or another, don’t hesitate to call our tree care experts here at SB Tree Service.