Tree Care Tips and Techniques

Caring for trees is not an easy task. If you have plans on installing a landscape on your yard, you have to start at the most basic things first, like choosing the healthy trees for different purposes. After that, you will proceed to the process of taking care of the trees.

Step 1: Finding and Choosing the Tree 

Properly taking care of the tree will begin at selection of the trees you’re going to plant. Planting them at the right place would also matter. The first thing to consider is where to plant them. It’s not ideal to plant large trees near or under the utility lines. 

Short trees should be planted near those lines, and the large ones is recommended to be planted on the west, southwest and southeast so cooling shade is provided. The other factors you should consider are the hardiness zone, purpose of planting, soil conditions and sun exposure.  

Step 2: How to Select a Healthy Tree 

Once the trees are delivered to you, check them before planting. You should also be able to identify them. The bare root trees have numbers and fibrous small roots. The sign that they are healthy are their roots are in good color; the roots are equal to stem length and are also moist.  

The B&B or Balled and Burlapped tree should be firm when you touch it, and the root ball is adequate for the size of the tree. Carry the plant by the soil ball and not by the stems or trunk. Upon delivery, if the tree has broken ball, don’t accept it.  

Lastly, if the tree is containerized or potted, the roots should be pruned cleanly and the roots and soil are joined tightly. The plants should not be root bound. Once you decide to plant the trees, make sure you remove the pot or basket.  

Step 3: Watering the Tree 

One of the key parts of caring for the tree is how you water it. It is challenging to recommend the exact amount since the climate varies, but we’ll still show you some few tips. First, if the tree is newly planted, water the tree after you plant it. During the first 2 years of the tree’s life, cover the soil with mulch and water it. The tree would still struggle with the drought and heat, since it’s still going to make some adjustments.  

The general rule when it comes to watering is to keep the soil moist. To check it, just insert a garden trowel in the ground then use your fingers to touch the soil. If the soil is moist, then it doesn’t need additional water.  

Step 4: When to Prune 

The common practice when it comes to pruning is to do it during the dormancy of the trees. Doing such would result to new growth in the spring. If you want to “dwarf” the tree’s development, then prune once the seasonal growth is complete. If you want to improve the flowering of the tree, prune when the flowers fade.