Tree Care

At the time your trees are installed, the planting crew will water in the tree as required to last for 5 to 7 days. The soil well built around the tree is for watering purposes and should remain intact for the first year. When watering your tree fill soil well with a water hose and allow water to soak in. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times for deep watering. Normal hand watering for the first year is every 5 to 7 days as needed during hot summer, in cooler months water at 2 to 4 week intervals. Check moisture level with moisture meter before watering especially after rain shower.

Caution - There is no set watering schedule. Only water as needed. Check the moisture level first. Sprinklers will not work in watering your trees. Trees require deep watering.

Watering

Fertilization

For the first year use Superthrive monthly (1/2 once per 5-gallons water). Pour at base of soil well and water in thoroughly. We recommend using Osmocote twice a year (April and August).

Top Five Mistakes when taking care of your tree

1. Watering

• Under watering in the hot summer months


• Overwatering in the cooler months

2. Grade Changes

Adding as little as two inches of soil over a tree's root zone can lead to death from oxygen deficiency. Almost all of a tree's feeder roots are in the top twelve inches of soil; the top six to eight inches for some species, such as Oaks, and shallow-rooted species are especially susceptible to this type of damage. Placing soil around a tree to make a raised flowerbed is a slow but sure way to damage or kill the tree.

3. Herbicides

Broadleaf weed killers can also kill trees. They should be used with extreme caution. The same caution applies to weed-and-feed fertilizers.

4. Improper Pruning

When pruning, never leave stubs, which are an invitation to insects and disease. Trouble starts when the stubs begin to rot and the rot moves into larger limbs or the trunk. Always remove a limb back to its point of origin – the trunk or another limb. Cut just outside the bark "collar" at the base of the limb. And remember, there is never any reason to "top" a tree. This practice weakens the tree, destroys its natural shape, leads to weak and unsightly new growth that can break in high winds, and severely shortens the tree's life.

5. Mechanical Injury

Many trees, especially young ones, are damaged by the careless use of lawn mowers and weed trimmers. Cutting through the protective bark and into the cambium layer beneath the bark, interferes with the movement of water and nutrients and seriously weakens the tree. The damaged area also provides entry for insects and diseases.

If you have any further questions please contact your sales associate.