Introduction
According to Handy, tree care and maintenance requirements depend on the type of tree and other factors such as its location on the property, the climate of the area, the health of the tree, its purpose, and more. It can be challenging to take care of the trees in your garden without professional help but watching small shrubs grow into marvelous trees can be worth it.
Tips & Tricks
Here are a few tree care tips you can follow:
- Watering – It is important to water the shrubs after planting them to settle the soil and mulch. Usually, it is enough to water shrubs less than 2 years old using the garden hose for 30 seconds. There is no need to soak the soil around the tree since it can lead to root rot.
For trees that are older than 2 years, there is no need to water them as frequently since they develop strong root systems, unless you live in a dry region that receives less rainfall or it is a species that requires much water to grow.
- Mulching – It is crucial to mulch your trees after planting them since it helps keep them moist and insulates the roots from extreme temperatures. Plus, proper mulching also prevents soil compaction, keeps out weeds, and reduces damage due to lawn mowers.
Use a rake or a tiller to clear any grass around the area of the tree. The bigger the tree, the larger the space you need to clear. You can use pieces of bark or wood chips for mulching. Ensure to spread the layer of mulch in an area of at least 3 feet around the tree. However, you should leave a ring of about 3 inches between the tree and the mulch in order to ensure it doesn’t smother the tree.
- Pruning – In order to keep your tree looking healthy, it is important to prune and remove the dead branches of your tree since these remain leafless and can often fall off if not removed. However, ensure you don’t practice excess pruning if your tree is less than 3 years old.
Usually, it is recommended that you wait until the coldest months of the winter have passed before you prune your trees. This will facilitate new growth during the spring season. During the summer, it is easier to prune defective limbs or direct the growth of the branches that you don’t want. It is recommended that you avoid pruning during the fall since wounds heal slowly during this period.
Conclusion
Handy suggests you consider the planting site limitations on your property in order to avoid any problems in the future. For instance, it is crucial to learn and calculate the full mature size of the shrub including the height and the spread before planting it on your property. If you are planting multiple shrubs, ensure there is enough space for them to grow healthily into their mature form and that there is enough space to move around the trees to take care of them.
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