Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Your Trees Healthy

Only a few trees die of old age in most residential areas. Improper care and mechanical damage pose a significant threat to your trees’ health. Therefore, if you are not providing proper care, you risk making mistakes that could affect your trees and shorten their lifespan. Here is a detailed guide from Al Miley Toronto arborists to keep your trees healthy each season.

Spring Tree Care Tips

Early spring is a beautiful time of the year. Trees begin to show bright green leaves and colourful blooms. This adds splashes of colour to backyards, roadways, and even shopping centers. Here is how to prepare your trees for the growing season:

1. Inspect Your Trees for Winter-Related Damage

You will need to wait until your trees leaf out to determine the full extent of the winter damage. Some of the signs of damage you should pay attention to include broken branches, patches of missing bark, and tree-related debris on the ground. You should also check for cracks and splits in the trunk.

2. Prune Dead Branches

You should prune your trees in spring, before temperatures begin to drop in the fall. This will protect your trees from diseases and pests that prey on vulnerable trees. It is recommended to hire tree care services in Toronto to carefully assess the extent of the damage and remove the diseased branches safely.

3. Soil Conditioning and Mulching

Trees are living organisms and require a ‘healthy diet’ to grow and thrive. Get an expert to assess your trees and soil to determine the best way to condition the latter. Note that soil conditioning can help your trees develop stronger roots, branches, and canopies.

Dry weather can damage trees’ roots, and mulching can prevent that. It acts as a protective cover for the trees’ roots, keeping the soil cool and moist. Be sure to use proper mulching techniques to avoid issues associated with over-mulching.

Manage Tree Growth and Stress in the Summer

Trees experience stress when exposed to drought, intense heat, and harsh environmental changes. Thus, prolonged exposure to harsh summers can make your trees vulnerable to dryness, pests, and diseases. Some of the common signs of tree health decline in the summer include:

• Premature leaf fall

• Browning or wilting leaves

• Branch dieback

• Slow growth

• Back cracking

Preventing tree health decline in the summer requires more than just routine watering. Here are tips to avoid dryness and other issues that affect trees in the hot summer months.

• Deep and infrequent watering in the morning. Use irrigation for trees in high-stress areas.

• Add a 2-3-inch layer of mulch (organic) to improve moisture retention.

• Remove dead branches, thin dense canopies, and manage competing branches.

• Test your soil’s pH level, assess nutrient content, and soil texture.

• Use the recommended slow-release fertilizer (when necessary).

• Routine inspection to identify and exterminate pests, such as mites, aphids, and scales.

Summer is a good time to assess the overall health and safety of your trees. During the assessment process, pay attention to potential storm damage, canopy balance, growth trends, and other factors. If you plan to remove a tree for any reason, it is best to talk to an expert in tree removal in Torontofirst.

Prepare Your Trees for Storms and Dormancy

Fall tree care is somewhat different from summer and spring care. Tree growth often slows down in the fall, and it is a good time for pruning. Begin pruning out the diseased or damaged branches to limit the spread of tree diseases in case there are bacteria or fungal spores on the branches.

Removing weak branches prevents snapping due to blustery winds or the extra weight of snow (in the winter). If your trees have grown taller than desired, you may want to perform structural pruning. For instance, you can remove unnecessary branches that may have grown directly up the canopy. Tree branches should grow upward and outward.

It is also recommended to cut the branches that hang over your garage and home or over driveways and walkways. Prune off all suckers shooting up around your trees’ trunks. Be sure to use clean, sharp, and disinfected tools on all the pruned trees to heal the open ‘wound’ quickly.

When it comes to watering your trees in the fall, you should first consider the tree species you have. For instance, deciduous trees often prepare for dormancy in the winter by shedding leaves. This slows down their metabolic process and growth, which means they need less watering. Therefore, you should cut back watering to prevent root rot.

Protect Your Trees from Winter-Related Damage

Ontario’s winter weather can be tough on trees, especially the ones you planted recently. Heavy snowfall, strong winds, changing temperatures, and road salt can affect trees. Whether you plan to prepare your trees for winter on your own or prefer hiring a landscaper, here are tree care tips during the winter.

1. Slow and Deep Watering

Your trees will continue to lose moisture in the winter. Considering frozen soil prevents tree roots from absorbing water, your trees are at risk of winter drought. Therefore, you should give your trees a deep watering just before the onset of winter. You may continue to water the trees slowly and deeply during the winter.

2. Mulching

Add organic mulch to protect the tree roots from frequent freeze-thaw cycles. Mulching insulates the soil and helps keep the soil temperature consistent throughout the winter months. So, apply 3-4 inches of shredded bark, wood chips, and other forms of natural mulch. Avoid volcano mulching (keep the mulch away from the tree trunk).

3. Prevent Damage Associated with Heavy Snowfall

Accumulating snow and ice can weigh on tree branches and cause breakage. To prevent this, you should gently brush snow off branches in one direction and use your hands or a soft brush. Do not shake the branches or use tools to knock off the accumulated ice.

Conclusion

Healthy trees require proper seasonal care. While property owners can handle some tree maintenance tasks, other tasks like pruning, soil conditioning, and damage assessment should be left to professionals. Remember, proper tree care and maintenance will ensure your trees can thrive for decades.