Healthy and appealing trees are
beneficial in a few ways. While they add definition, texture, color, and even
shade, healthy and mature trees add value to your home, as well. Recent reports
state a mature tree can have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000.
Because of their physical and
financial benefits, protecting the underlying health and overall appeal of your
mature trees is imperative. With these simple solutions and the help of professionals
, you will learn how to protect your mature trees.
1. Water Properly
You most likely know that your trees
require a good amount of water when they are first planted, but you may not
realize how to water mature trees properly.
Too little water can result in the
tree and its underlying roots drying out while too much water can increase the
risk of fungal growth and decay. Therefore, learn how to water your trees to
keep them appealing and healthy.
To ensure the tree is being watered
sufficiently, check the soil conditions regularly. The consistency should be
moist, not soggy, so if your soil feels dry, it needs to be watered. If the
soil is soggy or you notice water puddling up around the tree, avoid watering
the tree for a few days.
When it is time to water, you need
to know about how much water to apply to the tree and underlying soil. Your
best option for supplying the tree with the right amount of water is to measure
the tree trunk. Experts believe 10 gallons of wateris needed for every inch of
the tree trunk's diameter.
2. Protect the Roots
Even though they are out-of-sight
underground, the roots should never be out-of-mind. Without healthy and strong
roots, your tree will stop growing, blooming, and thriving. In many cases,
issues with the roots can negatively affect its look and structural integrity,
so keep your mature tree's roots strong to help your tree.
While surprising to learn, compacted
soil is one of the most common dangers to the root system and tree health. If
the soil becomes compacted and hard, oxygen, water, and nutrients will struggle
moving from the soil into the root system, eventually causing your tree
distress.
If the soil around the tree's roots
is compacted, consider mixing in some compost. This will till up the hard soil
while providing the roots with extra vitamins and nutrients your tree needs to
thrive.
Aerate the soil around the tree to
help loosen up compacted soil. Of course, this will only benefit the top few
inches of soil. If deeper layers of soil are compacted, a more involved tilling
and excavation will be necessary.
3. Prune Correctly
Pruning is helpful for promoting new
growth in young trees, but it is also beneficial for protecting the look and
health of mature trees.
Excessive pruning is not necessary,
since numerous cuts and wounds left behind from trimming could actually put
your tree in distress. Unnecessary wounds will allow insects and moisture into
the tree, increasing the risk of infestations, damage, fungal growth, and your
tree's death.
Make sure to prune at the right
time, trimming off damaged, decaying, or potentially-hazardous branches.
Deciduous trees should be pruned in the dormant season, which is late winter or
early spring.
Trees that blossom in the spring
should be pruned right after they bloom. Trees that bloom later should be
pruned right before new growth begins in the early part of spring.
Caring for your mature trees is just
as important as caring for your young trees. For assistance caring for your
trees, contact the professionals at Kaily's Tree Service today.
