Beyond Pruning: 4 Other Things You Can Do For Your Trees Each Spring
Posted on: 15 May 2018
Early spring is the best time to prune your trees, and yearly pruning has a lot of benefits. It encourages healthy growth, reduces the risk of disease, and keeps your trees looking tidy. Yet, with all of the benefits that pruning offers, it is not the only thing you need to do for your trees in the spring. Here are four other things you can do in the spring to keep your trees healthy and vibrant all summer and fall.
Apply Mulch
You may think of mulch as being for garden beds, but it also works well when placed around the base of trees. You have to spread it out a little so it does not hold moisture against the tree trunk. (This can cause the trunk to rot away, which may ultimately kill the tree.) The mulch does hold moisture in the soil, so your tree can access it more readily and do better during times of drought. If you live in a dryer area, applying mulch may mean you don't have to water your tree as often as you normally would.
Spray Insecticides
There are numerous bugs that can bother trees. Various moths love to lay their eggs, which hatch into caterpillars, on willow trees. Elm bark beetles burrow into the bark of elms, spreading disease. It is easier to keep these bugs away than it is to get rid of them once they have made your tree a home. So, have your tree sprayed with insecticides each spring as a proactive measure. Most landscaping companies offer this service.
Remove Weeds
If there are any weeds growing up near the tree trunk, take the time to cut them back, and perhaps, apply some weed killer so they do not come back again. Not only do the weeds look untidy, but they trap moisture against the trunk and may also make it a more appealing place for insects to hide. Be careful when cutting the weeds that you do not cut or damage the tree trunk. Mulch will help keep weeds at bay during the summer, too.
Fertilize
Trees don't need fertilization very often, but applying a good, all-purpose fertilizer once or twice a year can be helpful, especially for young trees that are still growing rapidly. Spread the fertilizer in a big circle around the tree so that the roots can reach it more readily.
For more information, talk to companies like Kevin's Tree & Landscaping Of Michiana.
Share