Taking Care of Our Trees

Are your Trees Thirsty? Surprisingly, even if a tree gets watered every time the lawn does, you still need to deep water, at least twice a summer and perhaps more with our winter short fall. Use a soaker or drip hose around the tree at the drip line and let it slowly drip for 2-3 hours. A mature ornamental tree or street tree may not need any. Mature fruit trees should be watered by filling a watering basin around the tree every 3-4 weeks; every 2 for young fruit trees. Remember - don't let lawn sprinklers hit tree trunks as this can cause crown rot and kill the tree.

Autumn is the best time to plant trees because autumn and winter rains will do a far better job at watering your tree than any person can.

The biggest problem associated with a newly planted tree is the root ball drying out. With this in mind, it will be a lot easier and you will have better success if you let Mother Nature water your newly planted tree by planting it in the autumn. Also, the cooler temperatures of autumn are less stressful on the trees.

This does not mean you shouldn't plant trees in the spring. Just take into account that there will be more rain the earlier in the spring you plant your tree, and temperatures will be cooler in March than in April and May. So the earlier in the spring you plant your tree the better off you will be. If you plant a tree now it will be dependent on someone to water it correctly as temperatures rise and the tree begins to use more water.

Mulch can be any organic or inorganic material used to cover and protect soil surfaces from compaction, temperature extremes and weeds. It can also be quite decorative. But more importantly, it can be used to fertilize trees. It does this by feeding the web of life in the soil. For as mulch decomposes, it's nutrients are consumed by the microbial life in the soil which later releases those nutrients when and where the trees need them most.

Some mulches like those made from wood take a long time to decompose while mulches made from more nutritious materials like leaves an grass clippings will decompose faster and provide nutrients more quickly. The most nutritious mulch of all is a rich earthy homemade compost teaming with microbial life.

I recommend you put a thick layer, 2-4 inches, of actively decomposing mulch under and around your trees. However, don't allow mulch or compost to pile up on the trunk of the tree. Place mulch beginning 6 inches away to allow for good air circulation around the trunk.

Many arborists provide consulting services as well as pruning, planting, pesticide application, fertilizing, tree moving, removal and stump grinding. Please contact them directly to determine what services they provide.

List of Mountain View Area Arborists from CANOPY.ORG

Selecting, Planting, Caring for Your Trees TreesAreGood.COM