Spring Tree Care

Winter is finally gone, and it is that time you’ve been looking forward to; time to do some gardening. However, it is also the time that there is torrential downpour and flooding becomes a common thing.

If you have trees on your property, you are wondering if they are going to survive the heavy rains, and you are also trying to find the best way to take care of them. You are in the right place; in this article, we shall highlight and discuss the best spring tree care practices that you should adopt.

Inspect the trees

Before you do any maintenance on the trees, it is essential that you first inspect them for any diseases, frostbite and identify the dead branches. If there’s any dead wood on your tree, have it removed immediately. For diseased or damaged branches, you can remove them if there’s no way to treat them.

Tip: if performed correctly, tree trimming can be used to prevent or manage pests and diseases.

Identifying the diseased limbs on your trees can be a difficult task unless you are well experienced with tree care. Therefore, it is advisable that you seek help from a certified arborist.

One of the dangers that’s associated with the passing from the winter to the spring season is that melting snow combines with the heavy rainfall to form pools of water. You should always ensure that there is no stagnant water around your trees as it provides a breeding place for pests and mosquitoes, which are not good for your health.

Always ensure that your trees have enough water

Spring comes with heavy rains, but it is not a guarantee that it will be able to provide required hydration for your trees. Depending on how your landscape grade is, the water from rain may just flow away and not get absorbed into the ground. You should therefore check for the moisture content at five inches below the surface, near the tree.

If you realize that there’s no enough water, perform deep watering. One of the advantages of deep watering is that it promotes the growth of strong underneath roots instead of the weak ones that would form close to the ground if there’s no enough water deep in the ground.

You can also inspect your irrigation pipes if you have some installed. Ensure that they do not have leaks and are allowing water to flow freely to all ends.

Replenish the mulch when needed

Most people assume that with the high rainfall, there is no need to preserve the moisture content in the ground. And this is a wrong assumption.

Always use mulch as it does more than preserve water content during spring. It also helps to suppress the growth of weeds around your trees. This is especially important if you are growing new trees and you don’t want them to be suffocated by the weeds.

Clear the base of the tree

It is also essential to remove any debris and weeds around the base of your tree. Debris can damage how the trees grow, and weeds have much more severe effects on the trees. They can cause disease and use up nutrients that the tree would have used. The unwanted plants growing around the tree can hide defects such as decay which worsens the situation as the tree grows.

Additionally, debris and weeds can also trap excess moisture around the base of the tree, which creates a perfect environment for the growth of fungus. Spring provides you with the best time to get rid of weeds as the ground is still soft and pulling out some weeds should be an easy task.

Plant new trees

Planting new trees has a lot of benefits, economically and environmentally. With the readily available water from the spring rains, there is enough moisture to promote the healthy growth of your trees.

The trees will increase the value of your property, help with air purification, lower energy consumption, help with soil conservation, among other benefits.

Fertilize your trees

Most people overlook the benefit of fertilizing their trees. Your trees are 'hungry' for more nutrients after the winter period. By applying fertilizers, you provide the much-needed nutrients that will help your trees grow healthy. Apart from providing nutrients, the fertilizers also help to boost the tree’s resistance against insects and diseases.

It is essential to point out that your trees may or may not need you to apply more fertilizers. You can determine if a tree needs to be fertilized by observing how its shoots grow. If the shoot growth is less than two inches, your tree probably needs to be fertilized.

It is important to point out that finding the perfect fertilizer for your trees may not be an easy task. Consulting an arborist is the best option as they know exactly what to consider when determining the fertilizer that fits the needs of your trees.

Conclusion

Providing your trees with the best care during spring is essential, and you don’t have to struggle alone. The tips provided above will help you ensure that your trees are well taken care of in the best way and, if you need additional help, Progressive Tree Service is a phone call away.