- What are some of the benefits of maintaining my trees?
- My neighbors have told me that installing mulch rings around trees is good. Is that true?
- Can my tree really be damaged by a lawn mower?
- Why should my trees be pruned?
- I have a newly planted tree. Should I prune it?
- Should I prune a young, established tree or is it better to just let it grow?
- A neighbor said my tree care company should have used pruning paint to seal the cuts. Is this correct?
- Should I have my tree topped?
- Should interior branches be removed when my tree is pruned?
- Should I fertilize my trees?
- How does the arborist determine when to fertilize? Why does my tree need a soil test?
What are some of the benefits of maintaining my trees?
Trees in the urban/suburban landscape have traditionally been valued for their aesthetic qualities and shade they produce. Especially in settled areas, trees have many other important benefits. Trees enhance property values. Research shows that the value of your property could increase up to 25%, depending on the size, type, location and health of its landscape plantings. Mature trees are particularly valuable. Therefore, it makes sense to protect your tree investment with proper maintenance.
Landscape trees, which act as wind breaks and sunscreens, can help you save money and live more comfortably. With properly placed trees around your house, depending upon where you live, you can reduce winter heating bills up to 15%. A mature shade tree can block up to 90% of solar radiation, which could translate to a significant reduction in your home cooling cost. Trees reduce air pollution by producing oxygen through photosynthesis and are filtering airborne particles. They also reduce noise pollution by acting as sound barriers. Studies show that trees have beneficial psychological effects on humans by decreasing stress, inspiring minds and breaking emotional barriers. Around the workplace, they tend to lower absenteeism and improve productivity. Many hospitals and nursing homes have beautiful green trees around them, since evidence demonstrates that trees can speed recovery from illness and are good for your health.
My neighbors have told me that installing mulch rings around trees is good. Is that true?
Yes, trees love mulch, if applied correctly. Mulches should be applied 2-4 inches in depth over relatively clean, weed-free soils. Keep mulch pulled back away from tree trunks and no more than 4 inches total depth.
Homeowners and professional arborists depend on mulch in landscapes for several reasons. Functionally, mulches discourage weeds from growing, conserve moisture during drought periods, reduce runoff and increase water-holding capacity of light, sandy soils. Mulches help maintain a uniform soil temperature and feed the soil ecosystem. A 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch can add to the aesthetic value of a garden while protecting the base of trees from being injured by equipment, such as lawn mowers. Mulch rings also decrease competition from lawn grass. Lawn grass, especially when lush, robs trees of valuable nutrients and moisture.
It is recommended not to use black plastic around trees because it interferes with the normal oxygen and water supply to the tree's roots. There are, however, landscape fabrics available that will function similar to plastic, but allow for normal water and oxygen exchange if required.
Wood chips, bark mulches, and pine needles are the most commonly used mulches in most of the country. These organic mulches are best placed directly on the soil, without a fabric barrier in most cases.
Can my tree really be damaged by a lawn mower?
Yes, trees often are wounded by careless use of yard equipment like lawn mowers, weed whips, and other trimming equipment. These injuries bruise and cut through important vascular tissue just inside the bark, which can lead to decay and ultimately death of the tree. A bed of mulch around the tree eliminates the need to trim or mow close to the tree's base. Extreme care should be taken when digging up or tilling the soil under a tree. Such digging will wound many large and small roots, especially if it occurs close to the trunk.
Why should my trees be pruned?
Pruning trees, especially when younger, helps promote healthy trees with good branch architecture. Again, think of a tree in its native environment, the forest. There, the tree in stiff competition with other trees, is forced to grow upright toward light to fill what is usually a very limited space. Trees growing in landscape environments usually have much more space and less competition. They will develop large, low branches and spread out to form much broader trees than they would in their natural settings. This difference in branch structure should be offset with pruning to minimize development of hazardous limbs that are likely to fail.
I have a newly planted tree. Should I prune it?
It is generally recommended that limited pruning be done at the time of planting. When a young tree is planted, dead, broken, and split branches should be removed. Once the tree has begun to establishs (one year or more after planting) a central trunk or leader or well-spaced multiple trunks or leaders should be developed by removing competing stems and thinning vigorously growing branches that compete with the selected leader(s). Branches should be retained on the lower trunk to increase taper.
Should I prune a young, established tree or is it better to just let it grow?
It is important to prune young trees in order to develop a strong scaffold branch structure. Pruning of young trees can avoid more expensive problems that could occur if the tree is allowed to grow with branch defects.
A neighbor said my tree care company should have used pruning paint to seal the cuts. Is this correct?
In the past, part of the standard recommendation was to apply a generous coating of a tree wound dressing to all fresh cuts. It was believed this would prevent decay-causing infection. However, research by the United States Forest Service Northeastern Forest Experiment Station proved that this practice works against nature's design and the trees' best interest. Research has proven that wound dressings do nothing to prevent decay, and some serve to encourage microorganisms.
Should I have my tree topped?
The short answer is no. Topping, heading back and dehorning are all terms used to describe severe cutting back of a tree's crown. It is a poor arboricultural practice and should not be used for healthy tree maintenance.
Should interior branches be removed when my tree is pruned?
Again the short answer is no. Most interior branches should be retained on a typical tree to preserve biological functions. The "gutting-out" of a tree by removing a large number of the inner branches is called lion's tailing. The limbs of the tree look like a lion's tail after pruning. The limbs will appear "long and slender" with a "puff" of foliage at the end.
When is the best time to prune trees?
The old arborist saying goes, "the best time to prune is when the saw is sharp," meaning that trees can be pruned at any time. This is still true for most trees, although there are some points to consider and some limited exceptions to the rule.
Should I fertilize my trees?
Trees often require fertilization at some point in their life span. Remember, most tree's natural environment is the forest. There nutrients are continually recycled as leaves, other plant, and even animal material fall and decompose on the forest floor. When trees are brought into a landscape enviroment, this part of the ecosystem is usually disrupted.
How does the arborist determine when to fertilize? Why does my tree need a soil test?
Arborists have a number of tools at their disposal. The best is the arborist's knowledge of local soil and environmental conditions. The arborist may be able to make a fertilization recommendation simply by examining your tree and yard. This saves the client time and money. On other occasions the problem may be more complex and the arborist will recommend a soil and/or foliar analysis to determine the problem. Your arborist does know that most shade trees growing in landscape settings will benefit from nitrogen. Nitrogen is not stable in the soil. It is easily washed away by water and may periodically need to be replaced.
