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Toll-Free: (800) 461-5539
Phone: (509) 886-1566
Fax: (509) 884-5464
Address:
Mail:
PO Box 75
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Physical:
4857 Contractors Drive
E. Wenatchee, WA 98802
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Mature Tree Care
Think of tree care as an investment. A healthy tree increases in
value with age--paying big dividends, increasing property values, beautifying our
surroundings, purifying our air, saving energy by providing cooling shade from summer's
heat and protection from winter's wind.
Preventative Care
Providing a preventive care program for your landscape plants is like putting money
in the bank. Regular maintenance, designed to promote plant health and vigor, ensures
their value will continue to grow. Preventing a problem is much less costly and
time-consuming than curing one once it has developed. An effective maintenance program,
including regular inspections and the necessary follow-up care of mulching, fertilizing,
and pruning, can detect problems and correct them before they become damaging or
fatal. Considering many tree species can live as long as 200-300 years, including
these practices when caring for your home landscape is an investment that will offer
enjoyment and value for generations.
Tree Inspection
Tree inspection is an evaluation tool to call attention to any change in the tree's
health before the problem becomes too serious. By providing regular inspections of
mature trees (at least once a year), you can prevent or reduce the severity of future
disease, insect and environmental problems. During the inspection, be sure
to examine four characteristics of tree vigor: new leaves or buds, leaf size, twig
growth, and absence of crown dieback (gradual death of the upper part of the tree).
A reduction in the extension of shoots (new growing parts), such as buds or new
leaves, is a fairly reliable cue that the tree's health has recently changed. To
evaluate this, compare the growth of the shoots over the past three years. Determine
if there is a reduction in the tree's typical growth pattern. Further signs of poor
tree health are trunk decay and/or crown dieback. These symptoms often indicate
problems that began several years before. Loose bark or deformed growths, such as
trunk conks (mushrooms), are common signs of stem decay. Any abnormalities found
during these inspections, including insect activity and spotted, deformed, discolored
or dead leaves and twigs, should be noted and watched closely. If you are uncertain
as to what should be done, report your findings to your local ISA Certified Arborist
or other tree care professional for advice on possible treatment.
Mulching
Mulching can reduce environmental stress by providing trees with a stable root environment
that is cooler and contains more moisture than the surrounding soil. Mulch can also
prevent mechanical damage by keeping machines such as lawnmowers and weedwhips away
from the tree's base. Further, mulch reduces competition from surrounding weeds
and turf.
To be most effective in all of these functions, mulch should be placed two to four
inches deep and cover the entire root system, which may be as far as two to three
times the diameter of the branch spread of the tree. If the area and activities
happening around the tree do not permit the entire area to be mulched, it is recommended
that you mulch as much of the area under the drip line of the tree as possible (refer
to diagram). When placing mulch, care should be taken not to cover the actual trunk
of the tree. This mulch-free area, one to two inches wide at the base, is sufficent
to avoid moist bark conditions and prevent trunk decay. An organic mulch layer of
two to four inches of loosely packed shredded leaves, pine straw, peat moss, or
composted wood chips is adequate. Plastic should not be used because it interferes
with the exchange of gases between soil and air, which inhibits root growth. Thicker
mulch layers, five to six inches or greater, may also inhibit gas exchange.
Fertilization
Fertilization is another important aspect of mature tree care. Trees require certain
nutrients (essential elements) to function and grow. Urban landscape trees are often
growing in soils that do not contain sufficient available nutrients for satisfactory
growth and development. In these situations it may be necessary to fertilize to
improve plant vigor.
Fertilizing a tree can increase growth, reduce susceptibility to certain diseases
and pests, and can even help reverse declining health. However, if fertilizer is
not applied wisely, it may not benefit the tree at all, and may even adversely affect
the tree. Mature trees making satisfactory growth may not require fertilization.
When considering supplemental fertilizer, it is important to know what nutrients
are needed, and when and how it should be applied. Soil conditions, especially pH
and organic matter content, vary greatly, making the proper selection and use of
fertilizer a somewhat complex process. When dealing with a mature tree that provides
considerable benefit and value to your landscape, it is worth the time and investment
to have the soil tested for nutrient content. Most quality garden centers can arrange
to have your soil tested at a soil testing laboratory. With the test results in
hand, you can consult your local garden center staff, ISA Certified Arborist or
a plant care professional for advice on application rates, timing, and the best
blend of fertilizer for each of your trees and other landscape plants.
Mature trees have expansive root systems that extend from two to three times the
size of the leaf canopy. A major portion of actively growing roots are located outside
the tree's drip line. It is important to understand this when applying fertilizer
to your trees as well as your turf. Many lawn fertilizers contain weed and feed
formulations that may be harmful to your trees. When you apply a broadleaf herbicide
to your turf, remember, tree roots co-exist with turf roots. The same herbicide
that kills broadleaf weeds in your lawn is picked up by tree roots and can harm
or kill your broadleaf trees if applied incorrectly. Understanding the actual size
and extent of a tree's root system, before you fertilize, is necessary to determine
how much, what type, and where to best apply fertilizer.
Pruning
Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure next to watering. Pruning
is often desirable or necessary to remove dead, diseased, or insect infested branches,
improve tree structure, enhance vigor, or maintain safety. Since each cut has the
potential to change the growth of (or cause damage to) a tree, no branch should
be removed without a reason.
Removing foliage from a tree has two distinct effects on its growth. Removing leaves
reduces photosynthesis and may reduce overall growth. This is why pruning should
always be performed sparingly. Over-pruning is extremely harmful because without
enough leaves, a tree cannot gather and process enough sunlight to survive. However,
after pruning, the growth that does occur takes place on fewer shoots, so they tend
to grow longer than they would without pruning. Understanding how the tree responds
to pruning should assist you when selecting branches for removal. Pruning mature
trees may require special equipment, training, and experience. If the pruning work
requires climbing, the use of a chain or hand saw, or the removal of large limbs,
the use of personal safety equipment, such as protective eye wear and hearing protection,
is a must. Arborists can provide a variety of services to assist in performing the
job safely and reducing risk of personal injury and damage to your property. They
also are able to determine what type of pruning is necessary to maintain or improve
the health, appearance and safety of your trees.
Removal
Although tree removal is a last resort, there are circumstances when it is necessary.
An arborist can help decide whether or not a tree should be removed. Professionally
trained arborists have the skills and equipment to safely and efficiently remove
trees. Removal is recommended when a tree:
- is dead, dying, or considered irreparably hazardous.
- is causing an obstruction, or is crowding and causing harm to other trees and the
situation is impossible to correct through pruning.
- is to be replaced by a more suitable specimen.
- should be removed to allow for construction.
With proper maintenance, trees are attractive and can add considerable value to
your property. Poorly maintained trees, on the other hand, can be a significant
liability. Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work.
It should only be performed by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees.
For more information on mature tree care, contact your local ISA Certified Arborist,
garden center, county extension agent or city arborist.
The PHC Alternative
Maintaining mature landscapes is a complicated undertaking. You may wish to consider
a professional Plant Health Care (PHC) maintenance program which is now available
from many landscape care companies. Their program is designed to maintain plant
vigor and should initially include inspections to detect and treat any existing
problems which could be damaging or fatal. Thereafter, regular inspections and preventive
maintenance will ensure plant health and beauty. Refer to our Plant Health Care
brochure for more information.
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