In the winter there isn’t much you have to do with your yard and landscaping. When summer arrives, and you are busy with planting and mowing (and taking vacations, of course!), you may not feel you have a lot of spare time to handle proper tree care. Unfortunately, without good tree maintenance, you could find yourself with an unhealthy tree that takes up even more time. Here are some summer tree care tips that shouldn’t be neglected, and some of which a tree service can take care of for you to free up your time.
- Mulching – While it is better to mulch your trees in the spring, it isn’t too late to help your trees. Mulch will keep weeds from stealing nutrients from your trees and helps conserve soil moisture and temperature. Don’t put the mulch tightly around the tree, however, as that can promote pest and disease issues.
- Irrigation – While many trees do well just with what rain we get in Ontario, others like a bit more water, especially on hotter days. Overall, most trees only need about an inch of water each week. You don’t want to overdo it, or they won’t grow a deep root system. If you have questions about the water needs for the species of tree you have, consider calling an arborist. They can also advise you about other tree species options which may be more drought tolerant.
- Fertilization – It is a common misconception that trees get fertilization from what you’ve used for the entire yard. The grass steals the fertilizer before it can reach the tree roots. Instead consider deep root fertilization done by a professional to have the healthiest trees possible.
- Pruning – Pruning is one of the most vital tree care tasks. Not only should tree pruning be done for aesthetic value but also to remove damaged, diseased or dead branches for safety reasons and good tree health, and to prevent damage to your tree during a storm. Your arborist may also recommend cabling or bracing for a weak limb, so it can better survive a storm. The time for pruning varies depending on species. Be sure to leave large trees to professionals that have the proper equipment and experience.
- Inspections – Tree care involves paying attention to your trees. Inspect them often for signs of pest infestations that can quickly take a healthy tree to its knees, so to speak. Not every pest you see is a danger; however, so unless you want to take a course in pest identification, consider calling an arborist for an inspection this summer as part of your tree care plan.
Your trees will be in good hands when you call us at Hudson Tree Services. We offer several tree care services, including treating tree diseases, pruning, inspection, deep root fertilization, and storm damage cleanup. Contact us today with any questions you may have.