Trees add beauty to a property, but they need care to stay healthy. Maintaining your trees starts with keeping them watered. You also want to add mulch, prune, and add fertilizer. There are steps to prevent pests and disease as well. The new year is a great time to start implementing a plan to take care of your trees. This is your New Year’s guide to maintaining healthy trees.
Watering
Commit to keeping your tree properly watered. Rain will do part of the job for you, but trees need their roots saturated to the point of being moist but not soggy. You can feel the soil to check that it is moist enough. Be extra diligent during the dry season to put in place a plan for weekly watering.
Mulch
Mulch helps protect and insulate tree roots. Remove grass from around the trees to prepare. Add 2 to 4 inches of mulch around each tree’s base. This keeps the soil moist and protects the roots from lawnmower cuts.
Pruning
Trimming a tree at the right time improves the health of the tree. Weak or damaged limbs weigh a tree down. Malformed branches are not good for the structure of the tree. Prune these types of limbs to give the tree a good structure and keep it healthy.
Fertilizer
When needed, apply fertilizer to the soil around a tree to provide nutrients. Testing the soil will help determine when to fertilize.
Pest and Disease Prevention
Be on the lookout for signs of pests and disease. Pests chew leaves and burrow holes in bark. Disease may cause wilted and discolored leaves, dead limbs, and fungus. Pull weeds from around the base of the tree to discourage pests and prune diseased limbs. Consult with a professional for recommendations and remedies for diseases.
Booking a Consultation
Keeping your trees healthy and beautiful has many benefits. Trees provide shade, produce oxygen, add to property value, and more. You will enjoy the benefits of having trees on your property for years when you take good care of them.
To keep your trees healthy, book a consultation with an ISA-certified arborist. Your arborist can spot signs of poor health or pests. They can diagnose diseases, spot pest infestations, identify hazards, and suggest ways to keep your trees healthy.
With proper care, you can keep your trees healthy. A consultation with an arborist in Sonoma County can set you on the right path. Contact Image Tree Pros in Santa Rosa, CA, for a tree consultation.