Planting trees is a wonderful gesture for Mother Earth that just about anyone can do, but that is not the end process. Trees provide us with a number of benefits such as removing carbon from the atmosphere and providing shade to our communities; however, in order to experience these amazing benefits we need to take care of our trees so they can live long healthy lives. Caring for a tree can seem intimidating, but with these tips and tricks you’ll be able to watch your tree grow!
Provide your Trees With Mulch
After your tree is in the ground and planted, one of the first things you should do is find some mulch to pair with your new tree. Newer trees need quality mulch for a number of reasons. For one, mulch acts as a barrier between the roots and the weather outside which protects the roots from the cold or hot temperatures. Mulch also soaks up rainwater really well, which in return gives the roots water so they can keep growing. Lastly, mulch keeps weeds out of the area your tree is planted in, so this allows the roots of the tree to fully grow without having much competition.
To add mulch around your tree is truly a simple process. The first step is to remove all grass within 3-10 feet of your tree so you have a place to pour your mulch, and then water that area you just mowed. Now that you have your lawn mowed you should pour your mulch into the circle and create a 2-3 inch layer. Once your mulch is all evenly layered and you are satisfied with how it looks, all that’s left to do is to water the mulch one last time.
Trees Need Water
Trees need water just as much as you do so it is important to be mindful about watering it. As stated earlier, the first time you’ll water your tree is when you have just planted it and surrounded it with mulch. All you need to do in this stage is water it for no more than a minute so that the tree can start soaking up some water.
During the early years of your tree’s life, it is still growing which causes it to use a lot more energy compared to when it is fully grown. This means that you will be doing the majority of watering during this period. You will want to water your tree every couple of weeks allowing for the soil to soak up a good amount of water for the roots to have.
In times of drought, you will most likely need to water your tree more because there is no rainfall being provided to the roots, and the temperature can also harm the tree if you are not using mulch. Even when your tree is fully grown it is absolutely essential to water your tree so it can continue to receive the proper nutrients.
Trees Need Haircuts Also!
Just like how we need haircuts every once in a while trees also appreciate a touch up sometimes. Trees need to be pruned for 2 main reasons, safety and health of tree.
For safety pruning you are really only looking for any branches that may pose a threat. These would be branches that look unsturdy and may fall down and hit somebody.
The tree’s health is also linked to pruning for a number of reasons. When pruning for the health of the tree one of the main things you should look for are diseased or decaying branches. These branches could become extremely detrimental to your tree if it is a disease and spreads to the rest of the tree. You also want to keep the structure of your tree in mind when pruning for health. This means you want to keep the crown of the tree trimmed to provide efficient airflow as well as remove any crossing or rubbing branches that are causing excess weight.
Watch your Tree Grow!
I hope these tips serve you well in your new journey with your tree!