Arborists of San Carlos, CA want to share tips to keep their customers’ trees healthy.
Trees need tending in warm weather just as a garden does.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” This encapsulates the true need that the world has for trees. They are not just a beautiful thing to decorate our lawns, trees are truly the oxygen suppliers of the planet and their shade helps keep things cool in a world that is heating up. Obviously, we know that trees are important, but as the most ancient living things on the planet is there anything we can do to help them thrive? With the suggestions below, even the most ordinary of people can learn summer tree care and can help their trees be healthy.
How to Use Mulch
Mulching is an important step for any garden, and it is also helpful for trees, even older, more established ones. It helps prevent weeds and keeps soil moist. Here are a few dos and don’ts of mulch for trees.
- Do use organic mulch. Wood chips and the like nourish the soil. Gravel does not help with soil maintenance.
- Do not over-mulch. The depth of the mulch should not exceed 4 inches.
- Do steer clear of the trunk: Avoid placing mulch on the trunk and root flare (where the tree widens at the bottom) as this can smother the roots and encourage pests to make their homes in the tree.
When to Irrigate
You don’t have to be an arborist to know that plants and trees need water to survive. People tend to think of watering young trees that are newly planted, but think that older trees have deep enough roots that they do not need to be watered. While there is a sense in which this is true, all trees can benefit from water in a hot dry summer. There are several things to keep in mind.
- Roots: Though anchoring roots go deep in the ground, most of a tree’s roots are between 12 and 18 inches deep.
- Dry Conditions: Check the soil by trying to poke a tool such as a long screwdriver in the ground. If it goes in easily the soil is well hydrated. If you struggle to get down further than 6 inches, watering is a good idea.
- Deep Watering: Use a soaker hose in order to allow water to permeate the ground slowly and reach the roots that are 10-12 inches down.
Inspections: Looking for Pests
Though insects and other pests are small, they can take down the largest of trees if they go unmitigated. While contacting a tree service company is vital to the treatment of your trees, there are signs that anyone can recognize. Destruction of leaves is usually the first sign; bark and trunk damage may quickly follow. Call an arborist for diagnosis and treatment.
Using Cable to Brace Weak Limbs
Just because a large branch has begun to split does not mean that it has to be removed. Tree health care may be better served with bracing and cabling. This either wraps or pierces a weak or split limb and ties onto the trunk or a more stable branch on the tree, sharing the weight-bearing.
The Necessity of Pruning
Sometimes there is no way to get around removing dead branches or having to resort to entire tree removal whether due to disease, death, or bad branching. Any removal or tree trimming that is done should be done to improve or maintain the health of the tree. A tree risk assessment can help you decide what needs to be done to prevent damage, not only to the tree but to the home and the people who inhabit it.
About Ned Pratchett Tree Care & Consulting
As Silicon Valley’s premier tree service company, Ned Pratchett Tree Care & Consulting provides its tree care specialists with thorough training and offers both landscaping and tree services. We serve both residential and commercial clients.
