When the ground finally thaws and the first tiny buds appear on the branches, it’s easy to think that your trees can just take care of themselves. This is far from the truth. Your trees face a significant amount of stress during the winter months, and spring is the best time to give them some much-needed attention. If you don’t help them along now, they will struggle during the warmer months.
Cleaning Up the Winter Debris
Before you can really do anything else, you need to take a walk around the base of every tree to clear away the piles of old leaves, fallen twigs, and trash that gathered over the winter. While a few leaves are fine, a thick mat of wet debris against the trunk can actually trap moisture and cause the bark to rot or invite unwanted pests to move in and make themselves at home. You want the area where the trunk meets the soil to be clean and clear so that oxygen can reach the roots easily.
Trimming Away the Dead Weight
After cleaning up around the base of your trees, you need to look up to see which branches got damaged by the elements during winter. These branches will not experience any new growth, and they will also be brittle and vulnerable to snapping from high winds during summer storms. This is a safety hazard because these branches can come crashing down on your roof, on nearby vehicles, on power lines, and on people who happen to be close by. Hire an arborist to remove these branches. Do not attempt to do this job yourself because it’s dangerous without the proper training and tools.
Checking the Mulch and Soil
Many people think that more mulch is always better. However, piling it up against the trunk like a volcano is one of the worst things you can do for a tree’s health. You should pull the old mulch back a few inches from the bark and make sure the layer is only about two or three inches deep across the root zone. If the mulch is too thick, it can actually suffocate the roots or create a dry barrier that prevents a tree from getting a drink from the rainwater.
For instance, if you dig down an inch and the soil feels like dusty powder even after a rain, your mulch layer is likely functioning as a roof instead of a blanket. Refreshing the area with a thin layer of natural wood chips helps keep the roots cool and moist as the days start to get longer and hotter.
Watching for Early Warning Signs
Finally, you need to look carefully for tiny spots on the leaves or holes in the trunks. The warm weather wakes up many pests, and infestations happen. Getting things under control early on is a whole lot easier and cheaper than trying to save a dying tree. Consulting an arborist will ensure that your trees receive the correct treatment.
Keeping your trees healthy ensures that you have shade for relaxing on those hot days, and it also makes your property look visually appealing. Once all the work is done, your trees will be on their way to having a great year. Call American Arborists in Carson City, NV today for all of your commercial tree service needs.