Tips for spring tree care
This spring, give your trees the care and maitenance they need. Spring is the perfect time to assess any winter damage and to set your trees up for a successful summer. In this post, we share our top four tips for spring tree care.
1. Assess Winter Damage
2. Make Sure your Trees Have Enough Water
3. Remove weeds and debris around the base of your trees
4. Consistently check mulch levels and replenish as needed
1. Assess Winter Damage
- If your trees sustained any winter damage, it’s important to assess that damage and take steps to repair it. Damaged branches can create weak points in the tree, making it more susceptible future damage. In some cases, damaged branches may need to be trimmed or removed entirely.
- Look for dead wood, frostbite, or lesions on leaves
- If you're not sure how to inspect your trees for health, or need help pruning away damaged limbs, find a certified arborist near you..
2. Make Sure your Trees Have Enough Water
- Watering trees is important, but it’s also important to not overwater your trees, as they use more water less often as they grow. In general, you should aim to give your tree around 10 gallons of water for each inch of trunk diameter.
- Check soil moisture to approximately 4-6 inches below the service each week. Soil should be moist but not wet.
- Make sure to water around the entire tree, not just the trunk, and do so regularly for best results.
3. Remove weeds and debris around the base of your trees
- Weeds in the area can make it difficult for trees to grow properly, as both the trees and weeds are competing for water and soil nutrients. Because the ground is often soft during spring, this is a perfect time to remove any weeds.
- In addition to weeds, remove any competing plants, including ivy and lawn. These plants can hide defects such as decay.
- Weeds and other plants can trap moisture around the root crown, creating the perfect environment for fungus.
- Garbage sometimes collects under ivy and it creates a breeding ground for rats. Laying mulch around the trunk can help keep ivy and other plants from returning.
4. Consistently check mulch levels and replenish as needed
- Use mulch to help conserve moisture. Keep the soil covered with a 3- to 5-inch layer of mulch starting a few inches from the base of the trunk and extending 1 to 2 feet from the tree in all directions (creating a circle around the tree).
- Mulch also helps to suppress weeds
- Mulch is often available for free through creative resources and if you’re patient.