Homeowners with trees on their property will understand the importance of ensuring they’re healthy and thriving. Trees, with their beauty and value, are integral to the environment and perform many beneficial duties during their lifetime. They can also be stunning additions to any landscape and skyline, adding a touch of elegance and greatly benefiting a property’s external aesthetics.
As a responsible homeowner, you play a crucial role in the care and maintenance of your trees. Even well-established trees require your attention. Overgrown trees can significantly disrupt nearby structures, properties, and even power lines. Neglecting your tree’s maintenance can lead to potential conflicts with your neighbors, who may not appreciate the risks your tree poses to their property.
So how can homeowners DIY tree care maintenance and upkeep to keep all trees under control and in excellent health so they don’t pose a threat to people, pets or property?
Water It
Mature trees need around 1 inch of water weekly, while young and growing trees will need anywhere from 4 to 10 gallons per week. If you live in a drier region, you need to be physically watering for your tree so it doesn’t dry out and start to die.
Signs of a dehydrated tree include wilting or drooping leaves, especially during the day, discolored leaves, cracked bark, and bare branches.
The best way to water is to mimic rainfall, which means giving the ground around the base of the tree and roots a good soaking. You need the water to reach the root zone, as this is where it’s needed, so don’t be afraid to be generous when watering your trees if they need it.
Pruning
Regular inspection of your tree can help you to identify dead branches so you can carry out pruning. Neglecting to remove them can result in them falling from the tree and causing damage to people or property, and this isn’t something you want to happen, especially with larger trees or branches falling from height.
Removing small diseased limbs yourself can be pretty straightforward. If you are removing limbs from ground level, you can use a battery chainsaw to help you detach them from the tree. Never use a chainsaw on a ladder. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you can call in professionals or a certified arborist to assist you, but the removal of dead branches is vital for a healthy tree that is free from hazards.
Feed Them
To keep your trees in good health, you want to give them a healthy diet, and this means feeding them. You should be delivering nutrients via fertiliser to your trees that they might not be getting from your soil. Understanding the type of soil you have can help you uncover if your tree is deficient. Ideally, you want to add a blend of essential nutrients that are found naturally in forest soil, as this is what residential gardens tend to be lacking.
Regular Inspections
Regular inspections by an arborist are a proactive step to ensure the health of your trees. Chances are, unless you’re an expert arborist yourself, you won’t be able to tell from a quick glance if anything is wrong with your tree or what might be wrong. However, having it regularly inspected means that you can get a more comprehensive overview of the health of your trees, some tips and advice, and help to keep them in excellent condition.
Experts can spot signs of disease you might not be aware of or a pest issue that is damaging the tree, for example.
Use Proper Tools and Practices
DIY upkeep and care for your tree needs to be carried out carefully. It pays to understand as much about the tree as possible so you can care for it correctly. Incorrect techniques can damage the tree or make issues worse, causing more problems. For example, hedge pruning shears might damage the tree, so it’s advisable to avoid using tools you use for other gardening tasks unless they are designed for trees. Take your time to research best practices and tools to help you care for the tree correctly.
Having trees on your property is a big responsibility. Whether you are planting trees or have inherited them from the land when you bought your property, you need to ensure they are maintained correctly to avoid them being a hazard. Many things can impact a tree’s health, and understanding how to keep your tree healthy can allow you to preserve it for as long as possible.