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Growing shade trees in your yard has many amazing benefits. Underneath a full-grown shade tree is the perfect place for a backyard BBQ or for children to play outdoors. A shade tree will also keep your home cooler during warmer months of the year.

To get all of the benefits of shade trees, you need to plant the correct species and care for them correctly.

TX Tree Trimming has recommendations for the best trees to plant for shade, as well as some expert advice on taking care of your shade trees so they grow healthy and strong.

Planting Trees for Shade

Any tree can technically provide shade, but there are some types of trees that are built for maximum shade. These trees often have a thick, wide canopy that reaches out nearly as far as it does upward.

In the following paragraphs, we’ve provided examples of shade trees depending on whether they would be best planted in your back or front yard.

Back Yard Shade Trees

Shade trees in the back yard are typically for your own benefit. Next-door neighbors and passersby probably won’t see these trees very much, so they can be purely for your enjoyment.

Besides just shade, these trees can create year-round color as well as some extra privacy.

Here are a few popular choices:

• Magnolia
• Sugar maple or silver maple
• Weeping willow
• Weeping cherry
• Red oak

If you have the space, a live oak is another great choice. Live oaks are considered the fastest growing shade trees, and they can get very big. A mature live oak can grow up to 80 feet tall and as much as 100 feet wide.

Many of these back yard shade tree suggestions get extremely large, so you definitely want to do your research to find out if the tree is going to have enough space to reach maturity.

If there is not enough space, its root system can destroy your fencing or even your home foundation. You will also need to prune the tree every year to keep it from being overgrown. A tree that grows too large for its yard will probably have to be cut down, which is an inconvenient and sometimes costly situation.

Front Yard Shade Trees

In the front yard, you are planting trees for your enjoyment as well, but they will be much more beneficial for increasing value and curb appeal to your home than the back yard trees.

Buy shade trees for the front yard that are somewhat smaller so they don’t overshadow your home and landscaping. These trees should pair with your landscaping in both size and color, while still creating plenty of shade for front yard relaxation and play.

These are some of the shade trees TX Tree Trimming recommends:

Red maple
River birch
Dogwood
White oak
Ginkgo tree

These trees are colorful throughout the year, and they’ll exude even more color in the fall months.
Another excellent option for your front or side yard is the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae. This hedge-like tree can be planted in a long row to create privacy as well as shade.

With these suggestions in mind, we recommend that you plant what you like. In all honesty, any type of tree can grow to become a “shade tree.” Assuming the trees you choose are suitable for the climate in Texas, they will provide your yard and home with some shade.

Benefits of Planting Shade Trees

The benefits of having shade for your home are numerous — and there are a few that you maybe don’t automatically think about.

Shade, Obviously – When temperatures get too hot, you won’t have to hide indoors if you have a nice, shady yard. Place a chair or hammock below your biggest shade tree and relax outside as long as you want.

Climate Control – Trees can help regulate the temperature in your yard and inside your home. Not only do trees protect you from the glaring sun, but they can also make it feel 10-15 degrees colder under their canopies. This results in less solar radiation on your roof and siding as well, which should also result in more affordable energy costs!

Better Air Quality – Trees produce oxygen and remove pollutants, so there is healthier air surrounding your home. Arbor Day Foundation research reports that one mature tree absorbs around 48 pounds of CO2 out of the air.

Safety for Animals – If you’re into bird watching or think chipmunks are adorable, your shade trees can give them all they will need to build a habitat, find food and raise babies.

Fun – What kid doesn’t want a backyard tire swing or tree house? If you have small children, shade trees will provide hours of fun and countless memories.

How to Care for Shade Trees

Maintaining shade trees is very simple as long as you’ve planted the right species for the climate in Texas. Trees are strong and hardy after a couple of years, demanding little attention or care.

Consult a certified arborist from TX Tree Trimming if you have questions about the care of your shade trees, or even to help you determine the best tree for your yard.

Once you have chosen the best shade tree(s) for your yard, follow this simple care guide until your shade tree is well established.

Planting Your Shade Tree

The south, west and east of your property get the most sun, so plant your trees on one of these areas of your yard. This is two-fold: 1) the trees will create the most amount of shade and 2) they will also receive the maximum amount of sun for healthy growth.

Trimming Your Shade Tree

Prune during the first year or two after planting the tree to help to shape it and help it form a strong structure. To be safe, and for the best results, call TX Tree Trimming for tree trimming in Texas. A certified arborist will arrive at your home and deliver professional care for the tree.

Watering Your Shade Tree

Watering a new tree is crucial. This helps them develop a deep and strong root system and will give the tree more stability in the long run.

Fertilizing Your Shade Tree

Homeowners should fertilize a shade tree the same way you would any other type of tree in order to aid healthy growth. Fertilizer is not necessary, but it can assist in helping your tree to grow faster and produce more leaves, which are the source of your shade.

We hope this information was helpful! Remember, when it is time to prune or trim a new shade tree, TX Tree Trimming can help! Call us and a certified arborist in Texas will visit your home, examine the tree and lay out the best maintenance plan for its long-term growth and health.

Tree pruning is best left to the pros. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, wielding chainsaws and dropping heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it can be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned the right way can experience a lifetime of problems.

Instead of putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree itself at risk, enlist an arborist who is trained and experienced to do the job for you.

This will lead to stronger trees and a safer environment around your landscaping for many reasons:

• Healthy trees are stronger and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
• Cared for trees won’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
• Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
• Trimmed trees offer shade while still allowing air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping

TX Tree Trimming highly suggests trimming trees that are very close to your home or any that are an integral part of your property.

Is Tree Pruning Necessary?

It is not required. But it is beneficial. Trees are hardy and are able to grow on their own all over the world, in many different climates and regions, without pruning.

That said, there are several benefits of professional tree pruning, so it’s recommended for trees that you value. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that perform an important job for your house, such as shade or wildlife habitat.

Tree Pruning Gone Wrong

Trimming a tree is a complex task. You need the right equipment and a lot of information to guarantee the project is done correctly. The majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!

But that’s OK, because there are several services available who know exactly how to properly prune trees for an affordable price to you including all arborists throughout Texas we work with!

Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a professional arborist from TX Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth the price!

Pruning Too Much

When done properly, tree pruning is an ongoing process. Beginning when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by an arborist if you value them and intend to keep them healthy.

A huge mistake that homeowners often make when pruning trees themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to correct it all immediately. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at the actual removal cut. It is much easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist is able to properly prune trees any time of year.

Trimming in the Wrong Place

An experienced arborist knows where to trim each limb to prevent damage. This cut should be done just beyond the branch collar, the specific place where the branch connects to the trunk.

Trimming too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to decay, mildew and pests. Cutting too far from it leaves a stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree trimming results in an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic issues.

Pruning Big Branches

Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch this large can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and decay as the tree recovers from losing such a large branch.

Conservative pruning every year ensures that the tree service company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of harming the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.

Topping the Tree

Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! With this process, tree trimming companies would cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was neither attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of arborists do not practice tree topping anymore.

During DIY tree pruning, you might think this is a good way to reduce the height of your tree with only one cut, but once you have cut the top of a tree off, there’s virtually no chance it will ever regain a natural shape.

The Solution? Call TX Tree Trimming

Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.

Performing this project yourself might seem like a way to save money, but you could end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s a lot safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Texas from TX Tree Trimming.

Limbs don’t grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which produces odd shapes that might require years to correct. The tree could look bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one trimming mistake.

Bad trimming could also result in death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough carbon dioxide and sunlight to continue growing.

Cutting too many branches can also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock can be overcome, but it takes a great deal of care and patience. Even with proper care, a tree experiencing shock may still die.

Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call TX Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Texas able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!

Trees are living organisms, so it stands to reason that they can become “sick” like humans and animals. A disease or other tree problem might take a little while to show up due to the overall size of the tree, and once you identify a symptom, it could be too late to save the tree.

A certified arborist from TX Tree Trimming can identify and treat tree problems so that you have a much better chance of keeping the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an experienced arborist prevent a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and more flowers or fruit with professional tree trimming.

Have you ever noticed a tree on your lawn that has always seemed OK but all of the sudden seems like something is wrong? In the next blog post, we’ll explain some of the most common tree problems and diseases and what these symptoms mean.

If you notice any of these things, act fast for the best chance of saving the tree and the ones nearby it.

Tree Diseases & Common Problems

These 7 things are the most frequent issues addressed by certified arborists in Texas. As soon as you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, call someone with the knowledge and tools to help!

Tree Diseases

Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is a fungus that is very common in both plants and trees. The name originates from the yellow and brown spots this disease produces on the leaves.

Leaf rust is dangerous because it prevents the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be treated with fungicides and selective trimming of the affected leaves. It could be necessary to cut off whole branches with leaf rust.

Witches’ Broom – This common tree disease creates a large mass of twigs, dead leaves and branches that look like a broom shape. It is caused by insects, unusually wet weather or fungus. The construction of a clump of leaves and twigs is the tree’s reaction to infection or danger.

Some instances of Witches’ Broom are fatal for the tree, others are only considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.

Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on just about anything in moist conditions, but even when the wet conditions are gone, mildew can remain and thrive. It usually appears as a powdery texture, typically white, and it usually shows up on the leaves of the tree first.

The the best method for treating mildew is to use a fungicide that contains sulfur. This will remove the existing mildew and prevent future mildew on the tree. You might also need to prune the tree to remove limbs, fruit, flowers and any leaves that have been affected by the mildew

Gall – Gall is a tree disease that appears when insects build small nests on the leaves or branches of a tree to leave their eggs in. Most types of galls are not harmful to the tree, but none of them are attractive.

Gall will appear as bumps on the tree, in different sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some color in between.

You do not have to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can affect the growth of recently planted trees. Treat galls by killing the pests. You should also clean out from under the tree after the leaves fall off, because this is where the insects live during winter.

Other Tree Problems

Incorrect Pruning – There’s a science to tree pruning, as well as many types, and if you aren’t sure how to do it, you could harm the tree past the point of recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or a lack of pruning at all) is just as big of an issue. Only a certified arborist should be trusted to trim trees in order to keep them healthy.

Lack of Water – New trees can be severely impacted by drought. If you plant new trees, you will need to supplement how much water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water will have its growth stunted. The first symptom you are likely to see is scorched, dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.

Too Much Sun – Do some initial planning before planting trees in a full-sun area. Most types of trees can handle it just fine, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is harsh for an extended period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting excessive sun needs extra water to prevent wilting, drooping leaves.

Certified Arborist Services in Texas

A trained arborist from TX Tree Trimming will quickly identify what’s happening with your sick tree and formulate a plan to rescue it.

Here is what an arborist is trained to do:

• Inspect trees from the ground and from the branches of the tree if necessary. Climbing into the canopy is often necessary to identify exactly what is causing the symptoms.
• Treat your tree with additives and fertilizers in the dirt or solutions sprayed on the leaves. The arborist will have knowledge about the disease affecting your tree and the most effective treatments.
• Prune tree limbs to remove dead or damaged branches and to assist healthy growth. Even if heavy pruning is necessary, they will know how to remove branches so that the tree survives both the disease and the pruning.
• Remove the tree from your yard if nothing can be done to save it. The worst case is that the tree is dying, and cutting it down is the only choice to protect your property and surrounding landscape.

Arborists can also inform you about the trees that you have and how to best maintain them so you don’t find yourself in the same situation again.

Many tree problems look similar to each other, requiring an expert eye to correctly determine and treat the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, unhealthy or disfigured, call a certified arborist from TX Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late for your tree.

When it comes to the question, “Which season is best for tree trimming?” The answer is typically indirect.

Tree type dictates when many species are able to be trimmed, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees in the landscape.

With the assistance of a certified arborist in Texas, you will be able to determine which time of year is optimal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and beyond.

Best Season to Prune Trees

Without any other information, TX Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees in the winter. This would be sometime within November to March in most areas. This season is ideal because the trees are usually dormant, so pruning will cause a minimal amount of damage, if any.

There are many benefits to pruning trees in the winter:

Less chance of insect damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are usually inactive during the winter in Texas. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a newly pruned tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.

Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves get in the way of your arborist from seeing the complete shape of the tree. When tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.

Trees have time to heal before spring – By doing this significant tree trimming during the winter, your trees will have several months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll hardly be able to notice where the branches were removed, and the tree will be able to focus its energy to produce brand new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.

Less chance of damaging nearby landscape – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of doing damage to them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the warmer months, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter since these annuals have already died out.

Do All Trees Need Trimming?

Yes, all trees will benefit from annual pruning. Tree pruning in the winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your property and your family. Let us explain:

Trimming Makes the Tree Healthier

Dead and diseased branches are removed, as are branch stubs that are prone to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against one another are also pruned so they don’t weaken each other or create an open wound on the tree.

Trimming trees every winter is also a great way to get an expert’s opinion on your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect infestations can be identified and responded to immediately.

A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better

When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every limb. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.

Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping problems. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, routine trimming will maximize the results you desire from it.

Trees are More Attractive After Trimming

If the curb appeal of your landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Trimming trees gives them an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is important if you have many similar trees on your property.

Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.

Less Risk of Falling Branches

Tree pruning – done the right way – helps the remaining branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t damage your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.

Another safety concern for overgrown trees is that they can block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and prevent it from blocking various views.

Call TX Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming

Hiring a professional arborist in Texas gives you access to their knowledge on tree pruning. We highly recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.

An arborist doesn’t only consider the current situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take the time to research your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that could put them at risk of disease or infestation). After collecting all the information, an arborist will create a long-term plan based on the trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until your goals for your trees are met.

This plan might require many years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.

This kind of annual maintenance will aid in healthy tree growth, help your entire property resist plant diseases and improve flower or fruit production from the trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.

Being proactive about tree pruning can save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is far more affordable than the cost of emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing a sick tree from a disease that has spread out of hand (and one that was easily preventable).

If you care about the health of your trees and the beauty of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from TX Tree Trimming. Discover our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of Texas. Call today!

Tree pruning in Texas is a professional service that beautifies and reinforces trees so they will withstand pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look wonderful doing it!

Pruning has to be done if you want healthy trees, but it needs to be done properly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from TX Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are small, but you also may be doing irreparable harm to the tree in the process.

To safely prune trees, you should know all of the following:

• When to prune your types of trees
• How much of the tree can be pruned at at once
• Where to cut each branch so you do not harm the tree

Cutting too much off of a tree might kill it or result in structural damage, but conservative pruning done annually benefits trees in a lot of ways. Professional pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, eliminates dead or diseased branches and assists in fruit or flower production.

For the best results, pruning needs to be performed every year, but as trees get older, you might be able to go two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how regularly you have your trees trimmed, make sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call TX Tree Trimming in Texas!

Types of Tree Pruning Methods

There are 7 ways to properly trim a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier year after year.

Depending on the size, species and health status of your trees, one method could be more effective than another, but each technique has distinct benefits.

Crown Thinning Your Trees

Crown thinning is typical for larger, overgrown trees in Texas. This technique eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more light and air flow within the crown. Air flow is important to help prevent disease.

This tree pruning technique also gets rid of branches and limbs that are touching so they no longer rub against one another and snap or cause weakened areas that can be an entry point for pests. Branches that grow at odd angles are usually cut off during crown thinning.

Crown Raising Your Trees

This pruning technique removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them very difficult to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weak tree.

There are many reasons you might want to raise the crown of a tree. Often, it is done to clear the line of sight for cars and pedestrians, but it can also be done to free up space for landscaping beneath the tree.

It is a very common method for large trees that are too close to homes and buildings.

Crown Reduction

Crown reduction reduces the overall size of the tree’s crown from its exterior edges. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a certain size. By reducing the crown size, you can remove the need to cut the tree down because it won’t interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.

Even when the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction can make the tree look much better because it removes irregular growth. This is a great solution for trees that are various ages but you want to look consistent.

Crown Cleaning

Often known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive pruning technique that gets rid of dying, broken or diseased branches so that the remaining parts of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only cause issues in the future.

Crown cleaning makes the tree look a lot better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that lowers the risk of branches falling, because healthy branches rarely fall.

Crown Restoration

Crown restoration is a focused pruning method used on trees that were significantly damaged (either by weather or vandals). It must be performed by a professional who knows how the tree is likely to grow in the future and how long it’s restoration will take.

Unlike other tree trimming services, crown restoration occurs during a longer period of time with conservative trimming that reshapes the tree. An arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree begins to grow and reshape on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth pattern.

Vista Pruning

If you are hoping for trees to increase the overall beauty of your landscaping, you are actually interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular viewing point.

It consists of several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – anything that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist will never jeopardize the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.

Espalier Pruning

Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against walls or a trellis. It is a different style of tree trimming that will draw a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning has to begin when the tree is young and then continued very routinely during the tree’s life span.

of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to get to the trees, as well as making it exceptionally easier to harvest fruit.

Professional Tree Pruning in Texas

Tree trimming can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! TX Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree pruning over DIY.

Besides the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t trim it correctly. Over-pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners caring for their own trees.

Trees in Texas that get routine care from a professionals are usually much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from TX Tree Trimming to prune trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Texas!

Planting trees on your land has several benefits. Trees give summer shade, filter contaminated air and increase curb appeal.

Once grown, trees are very simple to maintain: another benefit! Trees are hardy and tend to continue growing even with minimal care. However, if you want to ensure your trees reach their potential, they need a little more effort.

Lack of care for growing trees might cause rotting, disease, under watering or pest issues.

The good news is that caring for trees isn’t all that difficult, but you will want some tips to do it right. Research the trees you plant to know exactly what they need. Then care for them and watch them bloom.

Below, we’ll outline the five best practices on how to plant a new tree and seeing it grow. You likely are familiar with the basics, so let’s dive a little deeper and explain how to do each step correctly.

Tree Care Tips for New Trees

These tips will not only keep your trees alive, they’ll help them to grow faster, stand up to strong winds, fight off diseases and pests and produce more leaves, flowers or fruit.

Water Your Tree

New trees need a lot more water than well-established ones. The trees you plant are no exception.

The root of the tree and the soil all around it need be kept moist, but don’t let it get soaked, because this might cause the roots to rot.

The popular recommendation is 4-10 gallons of water per week. This includes rain water, and although it’s challenging to get an exact reading, a rain gauge can help get you close enough to supplement the rest. Your trees will need this much water every week for the first 2-3 growing seasons.

Mulch Around Your Trees

Mulch is much more than an attractive lawn care product. It actually helps protect new trees, especially the roots underground. But laying mulch incorrectly can lead to rotting and decay – so much so, in fact, that it’s possible that the tree will not survive.

Place mulch exactly 3 inches away from the tree trunk and spread it out to completely cover the ground under the longest limb. For new trees, this isn’t going to be very far, but as the tree continues to grow, your mulch area will continue to grow as well.

Keep the mulch no less than 2 to 4 inches thick in all areas. Be attentive in keeping it spread out consistently and far enough away from the tree trunk so it does not stop air flow around the tree trunk.

Fertilize Around Your Tree

Fertilizer provides many nutrients that your land’s soil may not naturally have. Most new trees will benefit from fertilizing, but you have to be using the correct products and doing it at the right time for fertilizer to be most impactful.

The ideal time to fertilize is early spring. Sometimes early summer provides good conditions (mild temperatures and wet soil), but don’t count on it.

If you aren’t sure about which fertilizer to use, consult a tree care professional for recommendations. Slow-release fertilizers are often a good idea because they feed your trees over a period of time rather than all at once.

Follow through with these things in the first growing seasons after planting a new tree, and then review your watering, mulching and fertilizing as the tree grows larger. As seasons go on, there will be additional tree care tasks that are more important for your new trees.

Trim Your Tree

Tree pruning is very important – yet very challenging – in the early years after you plant a tree. As the tree grows, you may see several small branches take off, attempting to become the tree’s trunk. While you may think this means that the tree is healthy and that it is growing well, it can actually result in a very weak tree over time.

Early trimming helps to shape the tree into what it will ultimately look like when it gets much larger. As tiny limbs emerge from the lower trunk, they have to be removed so they don’t steal water and nutrients away from the branches at the top.

As long as there are trees growing on your property, they need to be pruned routinely. When the tree gets too big for you to prune them safely, you can trust TX Tree Trimming to do it for you.

Monitor Your Tree

Growing trees are at the most risk for damage, disease and insect issues. But you’re never 100% safe from these issues. As your tree grows larger, monitor it carefully for evidence of disease or bad nutrition, including the following:

• Leaf color changing out of season, with leaves turning yellow or brown
• Premature leaf drop, despite whether leaves look healthy or sick
• Wilting, despite adequate watering
• Individual limbs or branches dying
• Bark peeling

These signs indicate a health issue. It is likely going to need professional maintenance if your goal is to save the tree. An arborist can diagnose the issue by just looking at the tree, although they will do testing if deemed necessary.

If you discover the issue quick enough, you will likely be able to save the tree. Being proactive is the best course of action to protect your new trees.

The steps above are simple yet effective. Don’t underestimate the value of the basics! When your new trees have pruning, fertilizer and more,, combined with sunshine and barring any severe, damaging weather, the odds are good that they will survive and will look wonderful!

Of course, you could already have a lot on your plate and don’t really want to take on these additional lawn care projects. In some cases, property owners don’t have the ability to give their new trees the necessary maintenance.

Whatever the situation, it’s ok to hire a professional for caring for new trees. A certified arborist in Texas can consult with you about the best course of care for each type of tree you plant on your land. They enjoy sharing their knowledge and skills with homeowners planting new trees on their land, and can be the difference between trees struggling and trees that thrive.

Call TX Tree Trimming now for information on routine tree maintenance in Texas – including tree trimming – for new trees and old trees. An arborists will determine the best plan for your trees! Locate your city in our service area here.