Everyone wants the trees on their property to be beautiful and healthy, but it’s not always that simple. If you’re new to owning property or just planted some new trees in your yard, taking care of the saplings might seem confusing at first. The good news is that trees aren’t quite as fickle as smaller vegetation. We’ll show you how to take care of the trees on your property so that you don’t have to stare out at dead husks whenever you look out your windows.
Know What You Have
There’s no such thing as a tree that is “just a tree.” Trees come in a ton of different varieties, and it’s important to know the breeds you have so that you can take care of them properly. For example, if you’re planning to winterize the trees in your yard, the process is much different for an oak tree than it is for a fruit-bearing tree. You can identify the trees yourself or call in an expert to make sure you know what you’re working with.
Inspect Trees for Health Issues
Trees are hardier than your average garden plant, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their fair share of health issues. If you want to take care of the trees on your property, you’ll need to check in with them every few months to make sure no problems have popped up. Search the trunk and roots for cracks or missing bark patches. Make sure leaves aren’t falling before they should, and always be wary of fungal growth anywhere on your tree. Fungus tends to indicate that your tree has begun to decompose.
Don’t Forget To Prune Regularly
Think of pruning your trees a little bit like giving them a haircut. In fact, it’s actually even more necessary than a haircut because it directly affects their overall health. Dead and damaged branches can lead to pest infestations and fungus growth, so prune those when you can. You also don’t want to let branches cross each other too much, as they can grow into one another and start to deteriorate. You want to shoot for leaving at least two-thirds of the branches on a tree when you prune.
Give Them the Necessary Space
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your tree is to leave it alone. Trees grow pretty strong without human intervention, at least, most of the time. One thing you can do is make sure that you don’t crowd them or work on them too much. Even parking a car under them repeatedly can compact the dirt around their roots and choke them out. Give your trees plenty of room, and they’ll grow just fine.
