Trees enhance every property with beauty, shade, tranquility, and best of all home value. Also, trees can be very beneficial to keep healthy, that is why it’s crucial to learn as much as you can about tree maintenance for your property! The arbor consultants at Cartwright Tree Care pride themselves in their ability to help education their local Kansas City Metro neighbors about tree health and safety!
1. Begin landscape care, especially for new trees, in the fall
There are a few important steps to take when preparing your trees for colder weather. Nip problems in the bud (haha get it?!) by practicing the PINE method: prune, inspect, nourish and extend.
- Prune unruly branches
- Inspect trees for dying limbs, insect damage or signs of disease
- Nourish trees with water and organic mulch
- Extend next year’s growing season by planting new trees in the fall
Remember that healthy, well cared for trees generally don’t die, snap, lose limbs, or house termites. Keeping your trees healthy can help prevent damage to your home and property.
2. (Our Favorite Tip Of Them All) The best care for some of your trees may be to leave them alone
Trees don’t need humans to grow. Most trees thrive where they are planted, but humans sometimes inadvertently damage the trees they’re hoping to showcase. Just parking a car underneath a tree regularly can damage the tree by tamping down the ground too hard, making it difficult for the roots to grow and shift in the soil.
Many times, homeowners want to build a structure near or around a beautiful tree to have the tree enhance the final construction project. Don’t do it!
When construction is too close to trees it can damage their roots and growth space. Roots need two to three times the length of branches to grow enough to support a tree. Be sure to discuss what your trees need with a contractor, and mark off places where you don’t want construction vehicles to drive or park.
3. Observe your trees and become familiar with tree diseases
Even though leaving your trees alone can be the best way to protect them, it’s also a good idea to observe them regularly so you’ll know when they change. A diseased tree is best diagnosed early. Changes you should monitor range from rapid discoloration to stunted growth. Knowing what your tree looked like when it was healthy can also be helpful when calling an arborist — a specialist in caring for trees, shrubs and other woody plants — to consider solutions.
Getting yourself a guide to trees and their diseases will be key in considering a diagnosis for a tree on your property that’s changed noticeably. Once you know what kinds of trees you have, you can research how to care for them and whether there are local threats including pests and diseases. You can also have an ISA-Certified arborist visit your property and assess the health of your trees. Your arborist might be able to catch potential hazards in that very first visit.
5. Choose the right trees to plant on your property and in your climate
At Cartwright Tree Care, we don't plant trees but we do tell our clients to pick the right tree for the right place and the right climate zone. That means considering how tall and wide the tree will be when it’s mature, whether it will lose its leaves in the winter, whether its shape — a tall column or a round ball — will fit in the space and how fast it will grow. You may love that beautiful oak, but will it fit when it’s fully grown? Will it get too much sun? Will it survive our winters?”
Around autumn, it’s also important to take into consideration if any leaves will fall onto your driveway or street. Wet leaves can be a slippery mess. Even just a single layer of wet leaves can make braking or steering difficult. Be sure to be weary of where leaves may fall, and drive slowly to avoid patches.
Make sure to prune and care for your trees to prevent roof damage to your home and to beautify your landscape.
6. Hire A Professional To Help Assist With All Your Tree Care Needs
Hiring a specialist like Cartwright Tree Care for tree care is essential to increase the aesthetic appeal of the property. They have knowledge and experience in providing high standard tree care with industrial standards and guidelines. Accurate maintenance also helps lengthen the lifespan of your trees by keeping them healthy. Consult the professionals at Cartwright Tree Care for all your tree care and get guaranteed services.
