Tips on How You Can Take Care of Your Trees

Healthy trees are an important asset to your property. During the warm, summer months, they provide you with nice, cool shade. The birds use them to create their homes. Not to mention trees can also increase property values. To help you learn how to care for your trees, continue reading.

There are a number of things that you can do to encourage healthy trees that last for a long time. However, there are also a number of things that you should avoid. If you are ever unsure of what to do, you can always call a tree specialist and see what they recommend for your specific tree.

Whatever you do, don’t top your tree. Topping is one example of removing all of the large branches from trees that are mature. Trees that are topped are often disfigured. Even though you might think you are helping the tree, you are actually doing quite the opposite.

When you take a significant portion of the tree’s canopy, you create an imbalance in the root to canopy ratio, which is going to impact the nutrition of the tree in a negative manner. It will also end up exposing the tree to the harsh sun, which is going to cause scalding. Most of the time, topped trees will end up developing suckers close to the pruning cut. Generally, these branches end up being attached with a weak branch that is doomed to fail.

Trees that have been topped are also susceptible to diseases. The stubs that remain behind have a hard time being able to form a protective callus. In the end, an invasion of insects and fungi set in and the tree becomes infested. Topping location cuts can also prevent the natural defense system of the tree from being able to properly do its job.

In addition, topping your trees is an expense that you can avoid. Topped trees end up back at their original height rather quickly. They end up being denser than those that are properly pruned. Some of the other costs are actually hidden like losing property value, while trees that are maintained properly will actually increase the value of your home. You also have to worry about any branches that became weak from your topping the tree.

Trees need a certain amount of elements to help them grow and function. By fertilizing a tree, you can help to increase its overall growth, reverse a declining health and reduce susceptibility to various pests and diseases. Make sure you are doing your part to water your tree and protect it from damage and disease that can be avoided if you only take the time and effort to do your part.