Blog, Home Tree Care
How to care for your mature trees
As a homeowner, you know how important mature trees are to your backyard. They offer protection from the elements as they age, provide shade in hot weather, and add beauty and character to your home’s landscape.
Proper care of your mature trees ensures their health so they can continue to thrive for years to come!
Give them enough water
Proper watering promotes robust root systems, good structure for the trunk, and resistance to diseases. Your mature trees need about 1″-2″ of water per week during dry periods. Its best if natural rainfall provides this much, but we know that droughty periods happen. If supplemental watering is needed, try to mimic what mother nature does.
Rather than a small amount of water every day (such as an irrigation system provides) water slowly and deeply with a hose or drip system, then lay off for a while until the soil dries again. A slow soak with a hose or drip system is better for trees. Turf appreciates a daily watering, but not trees. They like to have their soil dry out just a bit to prevent root rots and decay near the base of the tree. Too much water is nearly always worse than a bit of drought stress.
Apply deep root fertilization
Deep root fertilization is a great way to provide essential nutrients to mature trees that can’t be adequately provided through surface applications. This method injects fertilizer into the soil around the roots of the target tree, ensuring that the vital elements are delivered directly where needed for optimum growth and development.
Adequately done, deep root fertilization results in strong, healthy plants with increased disease resistance and vitality. Soil injected nutrition should be monitored to avoid over application of nitrogen. A good nutrition program will include micronutrients that typical fertilizers bought over the counter will lack.
Apply fresh mulch
Applying fresh mulch around mature trees is a crucial step in tree care. Mulch acts as a protective barrier between the tree’s trunk and other environmental elements, such as moisture and weeds. It also helps to regulate temperatures and keep the soil healthy so that your trees are more resistant to diseases and pests.
When applying any mulch, it’s best to start with a layer two inches thick and ensure there are always three inches between the tree trunk and the nearest layer of mulch. Avoid volcano shaped piles of mulch around your trees! This will help prevent rot and plant diseases while providing enough insulation for roots in extreme temperatures throughout all four seasons.
Professional pruning
Pruning can help ensure your trees stay healthy for years to come. To get the best results and do no harm, hiring a professional to trim your mature trees is recommended. An experienced arborist will have a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of plants and trees, plus ways to prune safely and prevent damage from disease or pests. They also have access to the required tools and know-how to prune with minimal effects on the beauty of your tree. A good arborist will prune only when needed and with a specific goal in mind for mature trees. Sometimes, a light touch is best!
Professional inspection for pests and disease
Protecting your trees is essential, and at Hansen’s, we have ISA-certified arborists that can comprehensively inspect any tree species. Our team will be able to detect any signs of disease or pests that may put the health of your trees or landscape at risk. Older trees may begin to shed larger branches and increase risk for those nearby.
With thorough analysis, they can spot damage early on so you can start treatment and keep your trees healthy for years to come. Don’t wait to get your trees inspected – take proactive steps now with plant health care from our experts from Hansen’s.