You probably don’t think too much about the trees on your property, but you should. While they are low maintenance, there are certainly not no-maintenance. Trees that are healthy did not get that way all on their own. It’s important to take care of trees when they are young to give them the best start possible, and routine care to protect them and allow them to thrive. TREEGUY.com offers some helpful tree care tips below.

Tree Debris Clean Up

Just like you clean up around your home, you should clean up around your trees. You should remove any leaves, sticks, fallen fruit and other debris that collects around your trees. You should also inspect the trunk of your trees to look for signs that pests have been around or that disease might be setting in. The earlier you can catch these problems, the better. Do not leave holiday lights on your trees for extended periods of time as it can affect future growth.

Edge & Mulch Around Trees

Using mulch is a great way to provide moisture and suppress weed growth. Mulch is very good for young trees up to 10 years old as it can help the trees absorb needed nutrients so they can remain healthy and look great. Mulch should be 3-4 inches thick and kept pulled back from the trunk of the tree to prevent too much direct contact from heat and moisture.

Fall & Winter Tree Pruning

The best time to prune trees is during the winter months when growth has slowed or halted, but you can prune trees any time of the year to remove limbs that have become dangerous or to maintain structural integrity of the tree. Inspect your trees for branches that are damaged, sick or dead. These branches will lack leaves and appear dry and brittle. It’s important to prune with a goal. For example: removing dead limbs or to increase future flower or fruit production. Otherwise you can cause damage for no reason at all.

Watering Trees

It’s important to adjust your sprinkler system throughout the year to avoid over watering. You do not want water pooling around your trees. While young trees need more water than older ones, sitting water or water that continually sprays onto foliage can lead to the growth of fungal diseases, not to mention trunk or tree rot. Newly planted trees should be watered once a day for the first couple of weeks after planting, and once a week after that during the growing. Just make sure you’re not overwatering.

Choose the Best Trees to Plant Near Your House

Consider how tall and wide the tree you want to plant will get. Will it fit in your space? How fast it will grow? Will it lose its leaves in the fall? Fallen leaves that get wet can create a slipping and driving hazard on and around your property. Doing a little research about the trees you want to plant will provide you with a lifetime of joy.

Tree Inspections, Trimming, Pruning, Removal & Clean Up & More in Gorham, Lewiston, Brunswick, Saco, Cape Elizabeth & Greater Portland, Maine

Trees can add beauty to your home’s landscape and need to be taken care of properly. Contact TREEGUY.com to keep your trees healthy, strong and beautiful. Give us a call today!