Trees offer amazing benefits, both to us and the environment. In order to experience the full benefits, they need to be healthy. In order to experience these benefits for as long as possible, this means enacting adequate tree maintenance for the entirety of a tree’s life. There are 3 basic things all trees need, this includes water, pruning, and nutrients. How much of each varies from tree to tree and also what growth stage it is in. Our team at Five Star Tree Services want to discuss some tips for young and mature tree maintenance.
Young Tree Maintenance
Pruning
Pruning is very important for young saplings. It helps shape the tree and can mean less pruning in the future, if pruned properly. Since trees are particularly vulnerable when they are young, you should always get a professional arborist to execute proper pruning. In the first couple of years of a newly planted tree, it should only be pruned to remove things like dead or diseased branches. After it has been planted, you can provide regular pruning practices and maintenance annually. In order to protect the structural integrity of the tree, proper pruning techniques are required. It will also help to encourage strong, healthy new growth. If you improperly prune your tree, it can permanently damage your tree’s ability to grow properly and uniformly.
Nutrients
In places like Toronto, an urban setting, additional nutrients are needed for trees, especially in their initial growth stages. It’s very common to have soil compaction in addition to limitations in space, which both affect the nutrients of the soil and promote deficiencies. Hindering tree growth in these urban areas. Luckily, you can help amend these soil shortcomings, allowing nutrients to reach tree roots. Air spades can be used to add organic material and to help improve other things like aeration, water retention, and drainage.
Watering
In order for young trees to develop strong root systems, regular watering is important. For the future success, health, and longevity of a tree, a well-established root system is needed. You need to keep the soil slightly damp but be careful not to water too much all the time as this can drown out the roots. Aim to water young trees with 4-6 inches of water once a week.
Mature Tree Maintenance
Pruning
Regular pruning is important for maintaining the overall health and aesthetic of the tree. It is best used for removing diseased, dead, or damaged branches. Corrective trimming can also be used to help with weight reduction.
Nutrients
Soil compaction is a major issue that promotes nutrient deficiencies. If a critical root zone has constant traffic over it, the soil can easily become compacted and thus prevent important nutrients from getting to the roots. A good solution to this problem is aeration fertilization, and bio-stimulation.
Aerating the soil helps to promote nutrient absorption and this should be done in either the spring or fall. This process is where air pockets are created, or macropores, and this allows water and nutrients the ability to penetrate the soil and reach the roots easily.
Fertilizer and bio stimulation add additional nutrients to the roots. The critical root zone is covered with these things to help encourage the tree to absorb essential nutrition, along with promoting healthy growth. There is a slight difference between bio-stimulants and fertilizer, this being that fertilizer has higher concentrations of nitrogen. This can be a shock for mature trees, which is why we would recommend bio-stimulants instead.
Watering
Unlike young trees, mature trees have well established root systems, which means you don’t need to water them as frequently. They should be sustained from rainfall but if there is not adequate rain, you can top them up with water once a month.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Proper tree maintenance is essential for trees in all stages of growth. When a tree is strong and healthy, you can enjoy all the wonderful benefits it has to offer. If you need help with your tree care in Toronto, our team at Five Star Tree Services is here to help! Give us a call at (416) 990-3355 today!
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