So, you’ve decided to plant a new tree. You may think that once you have your new tree in the ground that nature will do the rest. On the contrary. There are plenty of things you can do to help care for your tree and ensure it lives a long and healthy life. It takes years for a tree to be truly established, so the care and attention paid to your tree in the early development is crucial to its long-term health and spreading of the root system. Follow these tips to ensure your tree is happy and thriving, as compiled by the tree experts in Kingsport at Promier Tree.
Watering
Making sure your new tree is properly hydrated is extremely vital to ensuring its long term health.
A few things to remember while watering are as follows:
- Keep the root ball moist, but not soaked. Overwatering is absolutely possible.
- Don’t apply the water directly to the trunk, but rather over the root ball and planting area.
- Use an open-ended garden hose or tree watering bag.
- Water around ten gallons of water, two to three times a week.
- Your tree needs more hydration during warm months and less during cold.
- Feel the wetness of the soil to assess water needs.
- Check out the state of the leaves. If they’re dry, it may be time to water your tree.
Mulch
Mulching with organic wood chips is extremely beneficial for a new tree. It helps the soil retain moisture, stay cool and provides nutrients.
If you’re going to use mulch, make sure you remember a few things:
- Keep mulch at least 4-6 inches away from the bottom of the tree trunk.
- The further you can extend the mulch, the better.
- Make sure the wood chips are at least 2-4 inches deep.
Fertilizer
You want to make sure you don’t use any fertilizer on a new tree for at least a year after being planted. If you are wanting to use a fertilizer or similar product, contact our team at Promier Tree and we’d be happy to help you make the right decision for your yard and plants.
Pruning
You also want to avoid heavily pruning your tree in the first year after it is planted, so that it can recover from the stress of transportation. If there happen to be dead or broken branches on your young tree, those can be removed, but attempt to keep it to an absolute minimum. After the first year, pruning is essential to make sure your tree is evenly balanced. For more advice on pruning, contact our team at Promier Tree.
Professional tree care in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol in Tennessee
Our team of certified arborists at Promier Tree are here to assist you in making sure your new tree is healthy and thriving. Our team has the knowledge and expertise to advise you on any and all information pertaining to the health and wellbeing of your tree. We will also evaluate your landscape and help you choose and plant the right tree for you. If you have a new tree and you’re not sure how to take care of it, or would like to have new trees planted in your garden, visit us online or give us a call at (423) 765-2626 to schedule a consultation today.