Healthy trees are an asset. They provide cooling shade, habitat for birds, and can increase the value of your property. This information is provided to help you care for the trees around your residence.

　　There are some very good things you can do to promote heathly, long-lived trees. And there are a number of things you will want to avoid.

　　Q: How to take care of new plantings?

　　A: Do not plant a new tree with a wire basket, rope, or anything that may constrict or "girdle" the roots. Girdled roots seriously affect the health and the stability of a tree. Planswheresyou want to plant a new tree based on its type and mature size. Be cautious when planting trees near a home foundation, patio<注1>, driveway, under power lines, or under a home's eaves<注2>.

　　Too much fill over a newly planted tree's roots can cause damage, and may even kill some species. Take care not to plant tree too deep.

　　Q: What's good for trees?

　　A: Pruning<注3> is needed to remove dead, diseased, injured, broken, rubbing and crowded limbs. Trees are thinned<注4> to allow for the wind and air to flow through. Proper thinning reduces wind resistence often responsible for uprooting or creating deformities.

　　A well-thinned tree reflects a skilled arborist<注5> with good judgement and it is worthwhile investment in a valued tree. Healthy, well-formed trees increase the value of property. And the opposite is also true.

　　A well-pruned tree will hardly look like it has been pruned. The tree will retain the characteristics of its species. Some tree species are small, some are large. A skilled arborist will not make a large tree small as that is contrary to industry standards.

　　Q: When to Prune?

　　A: Tree pruning to remove hazardous limbs, dead and diseased branches, can be accomplished at any time. Light pruning can usually be done at any time. Large cuts are best made in late winter or early spring. Correct pruning is more important than timing.

　　Q: How to do proper watering?

　　A: The frequency of watering depends on the type of soil and the amount of rainfall. Water must be allowed to soak deepsintosthe ground. The most beneficial time to water trees is in the early morning. Water slowly or use drip irrigation6 until the water has moistened down to the roots. Do not allow water to puddle<注7> or accumulate and runoff. This is wasteful and can be detrimental<注8> to root growth and function.

　　Q: Is topping<注9> good for trees?

　　A: Topping are examples of removing large branches from mature trees. A topped tree is a disfigured tree and although it was intended to help the tree, the opposite is the result.When a large amount of a tree's canopy<注10> (umbrella) is removed, the crown to root ratio is imbalanced<注11> and this adversely<注12> affects the tree's nutrition. It also exposes the tree to the sun which can result in scalding<注13>.

　　A topped tree is also vunerable to disease as the stubs have a difficult time forming protective callus14 and this invites invasion of fungi and insects. The location of the topping cuts may also prevent the tree's natural defense system from doing its job.

　　Finally, topping trees represents an unwarranted15 expense. A topped tree will often grow back to its original height quickly, and it will be more dense than one that has been pruned correctly.

　　Q: What should be avoided?

　　A: Inflicted Wounds: Wounds made by climbing spikes invite infection. There will be holes in the tree bark. These injuries often do not repair efficiently or effectively.

　　Mechanical Injuries: Lawn mowers and string trimmers<注16>hitting the bark of a tree can severely damage the inner bark and cambium<注17> near the soil line. This damage invites insects and fungi infestation. The best advice is to remove sod from around the base of the tree and replace with mulch<注18>.

　　Soil Compaction: Compacted soil is not easily penetrated by water and air, the two basic needs for strong, healthy roots. Soil compaction can be caused by heavy equipment used near a tree, concrete over the root zone, even foot traffic can cause soil compaction. Do not store items by the tree.