In our humble opinion, a yard that boasts lush, healthy trees is a must for every homeowner. Trees provide beauty and desperately needed shade in the hot, Johnson City summer months. They also increase the value of your property!
All of us want to take care of our investments, and trees are no different.
Today our ISA-certified arborists in the Tri-cities area are sharing some of their favorite tips to keep your trees in tip-top shape.
- Let it be. Trees didn’t become the hardy, centuries-old beauties they are by requiring a lot of fuss and maintenance. For the most part, trees are self-sufficient and can take care of themselves.
- Prune regularly but selectively. Along the same lines as letting trees be, our Bristol tree experts suggest pruning selectively and not too often. Remove dead or damaged branches from mature trees, and snip any suckers poking out of the ground at the base. Some trees need at least annual pruning, and it’s best to do that in the winter when trees are dormant.
- Know your tees. It’s important to know what kind of trees you have because many diseases are specific to certain species of trees.
- Don’t overwater or over-fertilize. This is another case when “benign neglect” is the rule of thumb. Mature trees can actually be harmed by fertilizers, and rain usually provides sufficient water to the tree’s roots.
- Mulch regularly. Mulching 1-4 inches with organic matter around the base of the tree helps a tree in a number of ways. It holds moisture in the soil and prevents weeds. As the mulch breaks down, it provides nutrients for the soil. Warning: Don’t pile mulch high around the trunk because that can be harmful and even detrimental to the tree.
- Careful when digging and mowing. Construction is one of the most prominent killers of mature trees. Root systems of trees can extend 2-3 times further out than branches, and heavy equipment can do a lot of damage to the roots. It’s always best to stake off an area about 10 feet from the tree’s drip line before any construction begins. When it comes to mowing around trees, take care. Nicking a tree’s bark is damaging to the tree because it weakens it.
- Keep an eye on your trees. Know the signs of tree failure and keep an eye on your property’s trees to make sure they look healthy.
Arborists in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee
Especially if your property has a lot of trees, we know that keeping an eye on them and maintaining them may feel overwhelming. The good news is you can turn to our ISA-certified arborists at Promier Tree in the Tri-cities area to do the work for you. Give us a call at (423) 872-2988, or contact us online today. We can check the overall health of your trees, diagnose them and treat them if needed. We are also experts in dead tree removal.