Photo: Svetlana123 (Shutterstock)
Even if you spend a lot of time, money, and effort making your yard, lawn, and / or other parts of your landscape look good, you may be missing out on some of your garden’s greatest residents: trees. It’s easy to forget trees, especially if they were already on the property when you moved in.
We’re not saying trees need a lot of maintenance – in fact, they’re pretty self-sufficient – but when they’re near your home there are a few things you should be doing to keep them healthy and looking great. Here’s what you should know.
How to care for newly planted trees
Let’s start with trees that you planted. As you’ve probably found out, young trees can be expensive to buy. So not only do you want your baby trees to grow and thrive, but you also want to protect your investment.
This starts when you first plant the tree. As told by Kathy Robinson from Robby’s Nursery in Bakersfield, California 23ABC messages, do this by digging a large hole and filling it with a mixture of native soil and mulch that will help the roots lodge and grab.
Then create a small circle of dirt around the root ball – known as a water well – and fill it with water. “I like to fill it up three to ten centimeters every morning with standing water just above the root ball,” explains Robinson. It should take about a month for the new tree to take root. After that, the water well can go and you can start fertilizing the tree.
G / O Media can receive a commission
How to take care of mature trees
When it comes to watering adult trees, it’s a balancing act. Both too much and too little water can damage trees. So after Foundation for the Day of the Tree, You want the soil around the tree to be moist, but not muddy. So they propose check the bottom of a tree:
You can check the soil moisture by using a garden trowel and dipping it into the soil to a depth of 2 inches, then moving the blade of the trowel back and forth to create a small narrow trench. Then touch the floor with your finger. If it feels damp, they don’t need water.
Pruning trees is another way to keep them healthy. But it’s about more than just cutting off dead branches: when, how and what you prune depends on the season and the specific needs of the tree. The Arbor Day Foundation has several written and video guides on how to circumcise, including this one:
In most cases, minimal maintenance can keep your trees looking healthy for years.
