It is easy to overlook your trees as you prepare your property for the spring to come. After all, trees seem to mostly take care of themselves, requiring significantly less care than the rest of your property. While that is true for the most part, you cannot completely ignore the needs of your trees and still expect to get great results. There are a few basic actions that you should consider taking prior to the arrival of the spring growing season.
The Power of Mulch
If you spend any time at all caring for your garden and the rest of your landscaping, you are likely aware of the many benefits of using mulch. When mulch is applied correctly, it can provide a number of advantages, including bringing organic matter to the soil, insulating ground temperatures, maintaining moisture levels, and more. If you would like to use mulch to help keep your trees as healthy as possible, make sure to apply a thick layer of around 3’’ – 4’’. When applying the mulch, be sure that it is not contacting the trunk of the tree directly, and avoid the temptation to pile up more than a few inches of this valuable material. There is the possibility of having ‘too much of a good thing’ in this case, so stick with the recommended depth and know that you have done your trees a great favor.
Pruning Back the Trees
Spring is a time of new growth, which is why is makes sense to complete your pruning in advance of the arrival of spring. Take some time to cut back dead and damaged tree limbs to make sure the new growth has plenty of room to flourish. In addition to benefitting the overall health and growth of the tree, pruning is also a good way to make sure your trees don’t wind up growing into places where they are not welcome. Check this task off of your list before spring arrives and you can watch with pride as your trees live up to their potential.
Care for the Roots
Obviously, you can’t see the roots of your trees while they are deep in the ground, but that doesn’t mean those roots can be ignored. Fertilizing your roots prior to spring will help your tree grow properly as the weather begins to warm up. The soil directly around your trees may or may not be offering all of the nutrients the tree needs to remain healthy, meaning it is up to you to provide fertilizer which will deliver all of those necessary resources. Healthy roots make for a healthy tree, and that health is often boosted by a simple fertilizer application.
Your lawn and your flowers are sure to get plenty of attention as spring rolls in, but be sure to spend a bit of time caring for your trees as well. By taking some simple steps before the growing season comes around in full force, you can give your trees an excellent chance to thrive in the year ahead.