Tree health and human health
The health of Trees is important for our health and for the health of the planet. You don’t have to be an eco-warrior today to be aware that trees fight pollution and that through photosynthesis trees absorb the carbon dioxide that can cause problems. Healthy trees are important for our well-being too.
Mature trees and new trees
When we look at mature trees we get a connection with the past. There’s a good chance that right now you’re not too far from a tree that was planted or started to grow before you were even born. There are trees alive today that were planted and cared for 500 years ago!
Tree care and maintenance
Trees strive when cared for, a good dose of practical and physical care is all that it takes, So let’s look at some ways to care for the trees in your care.
Trees and the environment
The starting point is to remember that trees are part of the surrounding landscape. To nurture and maintain your tree in your garden you need to look at things like the space available for growth and the quality and type of soil for the roots. Good planting practice and lifetime care are key.
Here are 3 tips for short and long-term tree care and management:
Tree care tip #1 – Watering
The first 2 seasons after planting are the most critical for tree health. If the weather is very dry then you must add enough water to reach the depth of the growing root system. Of course, your soil type will always affect how water is held so be sure to select a good one. Well-established trees shouldn’t really need watering there is a long period of drought.
Tree care tip #2 – Mulching.
A mulch of older wood chip, leaf mould, bark, or well-rotted manure, has 3 main benefits for the care, health and maintenance of your tree. Place the mulch in a circle around the tree about 4” deep. mulch should not touch the tree stem and is best applied from late spring to autumn.
Tree care tip #3 – Weeding Young Trees.
There’s always a competition happening in your garden. Weeds, grasses and nearby plants are always looking for a share of the soil nutrients, soil moisture and available light. So, keep a good 3 ft diameter around your tree trunk free of turf or other plants.
In the Spring, when weeds get a growth spurt, hand weeding can be good and give your trees a fighting chance of survival. If physical weeding doesn’t appeal then you can buy weed suppressant groundcover or landscaping fabric which will kill established weeds and prevent new growth.
When you’ve planted your new tree, the work of protection begins. Be sure to Protect your tree from Lawn mowers and strimmers which damage the layers of the trunk behind the bark which can interfere with water take up and also provide easy access for pests and disease. Chemical damage such as Herbicides and pesticides designed for other areas of the garden can burn growing tissue. strong wind in exposed locations can stress, bend and kill young trees.