Tree Care focuses on maintaining or improving the appearance and vitality of trees and shrubs. This often begins with proper species selection and installation.
Other services may include reducing the risk of lightning strikes, removing storm-damaged trees, and monitoring for invasive pests. Regular pruning also promotes good health and helps reduce the risk of disease. Contact Higuera Tree Care now!
Roots are a vital part of the overall health of a tree. They transfer nutrients, provide structural support and anchor trees to the ground. A strong, healthy root system will also help resist disease and pests.
While above-ground components of a tree can be easily monitored and managed, below-ground roots require special care. Many common problems that affect tree health stem from poorly maintained soil conditions, which can impact root growth and subsequently the entire tree.
The most important aspect of proper root care is aeration. This involves loosening the soil around the roots to allow water and oxygen to circulate properly. This is done by using a tool such as a spading fork. It’s also crucial to avoid compaction of the soil, which prevents root growth by limiting the flow of oxygen and moisture. This can be caused by heavy foot traffic or by excessive mulching.
Another issue that can impede root growth is a lack of space, which can occur when a tree is planted too deeply or when the base of a trunk is buried under the surface of the soil. This can lead to girdling and root death. It’s also important to be able to distinguish between these issues and other symptoms that may indicate root damage, such as wilting leaves or stunted growth.
Nutrients are also key for a healthy root system, as they send them up through the tree’s vascular system (which starts at the roots). Different combinations of nutrients are essential for each type of plant, so researching and consulting an arborist is a must.
Lastly, the temperature of the soil is an important factor in promoting root growth. The ideal soil should be warm and moist, but not wet or overly saturated. In addition, mulching helps regulate the soil temperature, retains moisture and inhibits weed growth, all of which promote good root growth. Keeping these things in mind, you can ensure that your trees have the best chance of developing healthy and vibrant roots that will be well-equipped to thrive in the landscape. This will help your greenery flourish for years to come.
Pruning
Trees are valuable parts of our ecosystem, providing services like air filtration, shade and beauty. They also add value to homes and businesses by increasing property values. However, like any other asset, they will not remain in top condition without proper care and maintenance. This includes pruning. Pruning is an important part of caring for trees as it can improve aesthetics and structure, reduce risk, increase fruit production and more.
Pruning consists of the selective removal of non-beneficial plant material, such as dead, diseased or broken branches; crossing or rubbing branches; and removing ascending or descending limbs that are too close to power lines. Other objectives include reducing risk by removing limbs that are damaged or dying and restraining the growth of suckers from trunks and major limbs. It can also be used to thin a tree canopy and allow more sunlight to reach lower branches or fruit trees.
Structural pruning is most often performed on young trees to correct improper branch development or train them to grow in a specific direction or form. It can also be used to remove weakened or decayed limbs or to repair storm damage. When pruning a tree, it is important to make cuts that will promote healing and limit wound closure and infection. This is achieved by not cutting too close to the trunk or removing the specialized tissue that creates the branch collar.
There are two primary types of cuts used in pruning: removal cuts and thinning cuts. Removal cuts remove entire twigs and branches, while thinning cuts are used to remove unwanted twigs and branches to reduce a tree’s overall size. When pruning a tree, it is essential to understand the differences between these two types of cuts and when to use each.
While pruning is a common practice in many landscapes, it is vital to know when and how to prune. It can be dangerous to do this yourself, especially with larger projects. For this reason, it is best to hire a professional to perform any pruning work you are not comfortable or confident in doing yourself. An arborist will be able to assess the health and structure of your trees and provide you with advice on how to properly prune them.
Fertilization
Tree fertilization is the process of adding essential nutrients to promote tree health and growth. A well-fed tree is healthier and more resilient, able to better resist diseases and pests. Tree fertilization can also add to the visual appeal of a landscape. Regardless of whether you are a homeowner in Dallas looking to beautify your property or an urban planner responsible for managing a city’s trees, regular tree fertilization is crucial.
In a natural forest setting, tree roots naturally grow into a complex network that reaches to the soil surface, absorbing the nutrients and water needed to support a dense canopy of foliage. However, in a suburban setting where different plants are competing for limited resources, it’s more difficult for trees to access the nutrients they need. Fertilization can help to alleviate this problem by providing the additional nutrients that the tree would normally absorb through its roots.
A professional soil analysis is the best way to determine how often a tree should be fertilized and what kind of fertilizer is necessary. The analysis will give you a valuable insight into the soil’s nutrient levels, as well as its pH level and organic matter content, which all affect how effectively the root system can take up nutrients.
To optimize the effectiveness of our tree fertilization, we use a method called deep root fertilization. This involves injecting a liquid fertilizer directly into the root zone of the tree. This approach provides an effective and economical means of getting nutrients to the trees that need them most. It is typically recommended to fertilize a tree every year, or more frequently if the tree is in need of extra nutrition.
It’s important to time fertilization properly to ensure the maximum benefit. We recommend a spring or early summer application, since this coincides with when the roots are growing most rapidly. Fall applications may be possible as well, but should not be used until after the shoots have ceased growing. This is to avoid stimulating new growth that might not be able to harden in time to withstand the cold temperatures and winter rains of north Texas.
Watering
Trees require consistent watering to reestablish roots after transplantation and survive dry growing seasons. Unlike grass and flower gardens, which may be irrigated using continuous flow hoses or sprinklers, trees need slow, trickling irrigation that provides the soil with water over a long period of time. The frequency of watering depends on the species of the tree, soil type and conditions, and weather. It is also important to realize that overwatering is just as detrimental as underwatering.
When watering new or established trees, it is a good idea to use water bags and leaky buckets that reduce run-off while slowly and deeply wetting the root ball of the tree. This is particularly important in the first months following planting. Once the root ball is well established, the frequency of watering can be reduced to once or twice per week.
For mature trees, the best way to provide water is by saturating the entire root zone with a soaking from a garden hose at a low pressure. The slow dribble of water allows the soil to absorb it over a long period of time and helps avoid excess moisture around the base of the plant which can lead to insect problems, fungus or stem girdling.
Consider introducing mycorrhizal fungi when you plant new trees to help the roots find water and nutrients more efficiently. These fungi form symbiotic relationships with the roots of a tree, increasing its ability to take in water and nutrients from the soil.
If you are not sure whether your trees need water, stick a screwdriver into the ground and see if it penetrates easily. If it does not, the soil is probably too dry and you should irrigate. It is recommended that you water your trees at a rate of 2 gallons of water per caliper inch measurement of the trunk. This is an estimate and will vary depending on the species of the tree, soil type, weather, and season.
