Tree Care Calendar
Tree care activities can be done at many different times of the year, but there are times when each activity provides the most benefits. The timing of these activities vary by area, but they are same with respect to the life cycle of the tree. The exact timing for each activity can be obtained from the local extension service, land grant university or qualified tree care professional. Each of these activities are able to be done by the owner of the tree or by qualified tree care professionals.
Early Fall to Early Spring: Moving & Planting
The dormant times of a tree's life, is a good time to move them from containers or natural settings to their new home. This period is generally from early Fall to Early Spring and can be determined by when deciduous trees do not have any leaves. During this time, the trees may still use of the energy stored in the roots, so care needs to be taken not to damage them. Planting should not be done when the ground is frozen or is expected to be frozen in a couple of days. During extreme cold conditions, planning for the upcoming season should be done.
Pruning
As the leaves begin to develop leaves, the limbs that need to be pruned should be determined. The actual pruning should be done as soon as the leaves have developed and the tree is actively growing. In this manner, the wound created by the pruning is able to seal quicker and deter the attack by insects, disease and weather. The pruning should be done along the branch collar and a correct prune will develop a perfect circle of wound wood. Pruning should be done to remove dead limbs, develop a desired shape and increase clearance.
Early Spring: Soil Testing
Also, during the early spring, soil tests should be to determine the fertilizer requirements. If any nutrients are deficient, they should be added as recommended by the soil test. The addition of mulches at this time, may provide the adequate amounts of nutrients while preventing grass from competing with the tree's roots. The mulch will also remove the need for lawnmowers and weed eaters from coming close to the trunk. Spring is another time when additional trees could be planted, but these trees may require more water and support for the first year.
Summer: Preventing Tree Stresses
As summer heat and possible drought conditions arrive, the leaves should be observed to notice signs of stress. These signs could be the lack of water (drooping), lack of nutrients (change in color), attack by insects (missing leaves or parts of leaves, the presence of galls, or droppings, or other signs) or attack by diseases (change in leave color or size, change in conditions of bark, or the lack of leaves in a portion of the tree). These signs would denote the need for immediate action to correct the problem and return the tree to a healthy condition. The main condition of tree stresses, inadequate water, could be easily corrected by providing at least one inch of water per week.
Late Fall: Preparing for Cold Weather
When the trees begin to prepare for winter, the mulch should be checked and added to if needed. Additional tree planting should be planned and could be done before the winter arrives. Planting at this time of year could help the tree to develop roots before the rapid crown growth in the spring and could help the tree become more stable and reduce the need for staking. As with all planting, the mature size of the tree should be considered before planting occurs. Adequate clearance should be provided from all structures, especially homes and utilities lines.
Year Round: Keeping Records
When doing any action to or around a tree, records should be kept to enable actuate diagnosis of what good and bad activities have been performed. If a tree dies, trying to remember what was one month or one year ago could be very difficult. Also, it could be very beneficial to remember what good activities were done to a particular trees or group of trees.
Sources for More Information
For the homeowner, there are many sources of information on tree care. The local extension service should be the first stop. Their employees are trained in the timing and practices specific to their locations. The next stop is the state land grant universities. These colleges offer advise that is back up by research done by their professors and professors from other universities. Consulting arborist offer non-biased information for a fee to many types of clients. They are strictly consultants and are not influenced by any services or supplies. Practicing arborists or tree care specialists offer information that may be influenced by the services they offer. Local tree nurseries and landscape contractors are able to provide advise and may be influenced by their services and growing stock. No matter who is providing the information and/or services, make sure that it is specific for your situation and that the professional knows all of the facts associated with the case.
For a list of Consulting Arborists, contact: The American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA), 15245 Shady Grove Road, Suite 130, Rockville,
MD 20850 (301)947-0483
For a list of Certified Arborists, contact: The International Society of
Arboriculture, P. O. Box GG, Savoy, IL 61874, (217)328-2032 FAX: (217)328-7483
Latest Update 09/08/03