Health Care Recommendations for All Your Trees

If you own a tree that seems to be languishing, perhaps from minor stresses, it may need a boost to be revitalized. Before treating the tree, ask a horticulturalist to diagnose and make recommendations for you. If a jump start is recommended, here are some suggested steps:

Mulch
Scrape off any turf around the tree to at least a 3 to 4 foot diameter ring, larger for bigger trees. Mulch the area with an organic material such as shredded hardwood bark, cedar or cypress mulch to a depth of 2 to 3". Leave a 2" bare soil gap around the trunk. Aerate the mulch every few months by gently fluffing or turning it over. Check annually to maintain the depth.

Water
Water is crucial to your tree's health, but keep in mind that more plants suffer from too much water rather than too little. The first step is to know your soil. Heavy clay soils hold water, so less frequent watering is required. By contrast loose sandy soil drains readily. Check the soil around the tree before watering. Dig your finger or a trowel down to see if the soil is dry.

Next, observe your plant. If the leaves wilt and respond to water, water more often. If wilt occurs or the leaves turn lighter green and do not recover after watering, then you are watering too much. Reduce irrigation and let the soil dry down. Generally speaking a tree that has been in its location for two years or more, will not require any extra watering except in times of drought.

Protect
Tree wrap offers protection from frost crack and pests, and is especially important for smooth-barked trees less than 4" in diameter, and trees of any size and type in their new location less than three years. In late November, wrap the trunk with tree wrap. Starting at the bottom, stretch and wrap the material tightly around and over itself, winding up the trunk to the first set of limbs. Be generous with the overlap. Cut the wrap, tuck in the end and secure with tape or twine. Remove the wrap in the spring.

To help prevent borers from damaging a new or unhealthy tree, apply Bayer Advanced Garden™ Tree & Shrub Insect Control. One application of this liquid insecticide provides a year of control over borers, aphids, Japanese beetles, sawflies, thrips and whiteflies. Simply add the required amount to water and slowly pour the solution evenly around the tree or shrub, as close to the trunk or main stem as possible.

Be careful when mowing around trees to avoid damaging the trunk with the mower or the trimmer. Surprisingly, a tree can die from damage sustained when trimmers whip the trunk.

Also, be careful to avoid compacting the soil with heavy equipment when doing construction or remodeling work. Even heavy lawn mowers can compact the soil. Mulching around a tree will minimize the necessity to mow near the trunk.

Appropriate pruning and trimming can protect a tree from wind or weather damage. For example, trim out diseased or dead areas, or crossed branches.

Feed
Fertilize the tree two times per year with Fertilome Tree & Shrub Food. Apply fertilizer once between the beginning of March and mid-April, or about 4 to 6 weeks before the buds break. Fertilize again the in fall, between Labor Day and when the soil freezes. After fertilizing, water heavily to dilute the concentration and move it into the root zone.

Don't combine fall fertilizing with fall pruning. When fertilizing in the fall, prune in late winter or early spring. Remove dead wood at any time.