The Easiest Tree Care Tasks
Some of the tasks expected of property owners are way above their heads. However, these easy tree care tasks can be handled by any property owner.
One of the best things we can do for our trees is to mulch around them. Mulch mimics the forest floor where trees have evolved for millions of years.
Mulch retains moisture and limits the competition for nutrients and water from the grass. Use shredded mulch or wood chips. The mulch should not be more than three inches deep and avoid the “volcano” look. (Remember: donuts are better than volcanoes.)
Watering is another important task, especially in times of drought. Many property owners assume their irrigation system will provide enough water for both the lawn and the trees. The truth is very little of the water our sprinkler systems put out actually makes it to the tree root; most of it will be absorbed by the grass. A tree should have the equivalent of 1.5 inches of water per week. A good way to water during droughts is to put a sprinkler out and let it run for four to five hours under the canopy of the tree once a week. Remember, tree roots grow beyond the drip line of the tree and it is important to water beneath the whole canopy of the tree.
Another good practice is to avoid hitting the base of the tree with lawn mowers and weed whips. Doing so can wound the tree at the base, causing a disruption of nutrient flow through the tree. Over time, some trees will die from these repeated injuries. We call this lawn mower and weed whip blight.
Important Spring Tree Care Tasks
After a tough Minnesota winter, there is plenty of spring cleaning to be done. Here are some of the most important tasks.
Inspect your trees for any storm damage that may have occurred throughout the winter from ice or snow. Before the leaves break bud, storm damage is easy to see. This is a good time of year to identify and correct this damage.
Look for rodent and rabbit damage to any of your smaller deciduous trees, shrubs and arborvitae. After winters where there is a lot of snow; rodents and rabbits will feed on the bark of these plants and can cause a lot of damage.
Remove any tree wrap that may have been placed on the trunks of trees to prevent sunscald. This wrap should not be left on the trees after the winter months.