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Planting shade trees on your landscaping has many amazing benefits. Underneath a big shade tree is the perfect place for a backyard BBQ or for children to play outside. A shade tree will also keep your home cooler when temperatures rise.

To get the full benefit of shade trees, you need to plant the right species and care for them properly.

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

Planting Trees for Shade

All trees can provide shade, but there are some species that are built for the best shade. These trees usually have a thick, wide canopy that reaches out about as far as it does upward.

Below, we’ve provided some examples of shade trees based on whether they would be best planted in your back or front yard.

Back Yard Shade Trees

Shade trees in the back yard are primarily for the homeowner’s benefit. Neighbors and passersby probably won’t see these trees very much, so they can be planted purely for shade and enjoyment.

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

Here are popular options:

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

If you have the space, a live oak is a fantastic choice. Live oaks are said to be the fastest growing shade trees, and are able to get very large. A mature live oak can reach up to 80 feet tall and as much as 100 feet wide.

Most of these back yard tree suggestions get extremely big, so you need to do your research to determine if the tree is going to have enough space to grow to its full potential.

If there is not enough room, the tree’s root system can damage your fencing or home. You will also have to prune the tree every year to keep it from being overgrown. A tree that grows too big for its yard will most likely have to be cut down, which is an unfortunate and sometimes costly situation.

Front Yard Shade Trees

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

Choose 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 color and size, while still offering plenty of shade for front yard play and relaxation.

These are some of our favorites:

Red maple
River birch
Dogwood
White oak
Ginkgo tree

These trees are beautiful throughout the year, and they’ll display even more color in the fall months.
Another great option for your front or side yard is the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae. This tree looks like a hedge and can be planted in a long row with others to provide privacy as well as shade.

With this advice in mind, we recommend that you plant trees you like. In truth, any type of tree can grow to become a “shade tree.” Assuming the trees you choose are suitable for the weather in Missouri, 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 — there are a few that you likely don’t automatically think about.

Shade, Obviously – When temperatures get too hot, you won’t have to hide indoors if you have a comfortable, shady yard. Put a chair or hammock under 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 hot sun, but they can also make it feel 10-15 degrees cooler below their canopies. This results in less solar radiation on your roof and siding as well, which could result in more affordable energy costs!

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

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

Fun – What child doesn’t love a backyard tire swing or tree house? If you have children, shade trees can offer hours of fun and joyful memories.

How to Care for Shade Trees

Maintaining shade trees is very easy as long as you’ve planted the right species for the weather in Missouri. Healthy trees are strong and durable after the first few years, demanding little attention or maintenance.

Consult an arborist from MO Tree Trimming if you have any questions about how to care for your trees, or to help you decide the best tree for your home.

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

Planting Your Shade Tree

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

Trimming Your Shade Tree

Trim during the first year or two after you first plant the tree in order to shape it and help it form a strong foundation. To be safe, and for the best results, call MO Tree Trimming for tree trimming in Missouri. A certified arborist will arrive at your home and deliver professional care for the tree.

Watering Your Shade Tree

Watering a new tree is very important. This helps them form a deep root system and will give the tree stability over the course of its lifetime.

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 for caring for a shade tree, but it can assist in helping your tree to grow faster and blossom more leaves, which are the primary source of your shade.

We hope this information was helpful! Remember, when it comes time to trim or prune a new shade tree, MO Tree Trimming can help! Call and a certified arborist in Missouri will visit your property, assess the tree and determine the proper care plan for its long-term growth and health.

Tree pruning is best left to professionals. It’s a dangerous job, climbing trees, using chainsaws and lowering heavy branches to the ground; and it can be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned correctly can suffer from a lifetime of damage.

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

This will lead to much stronger trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for several reasons:

• Healthier trees are stronger and less likely to cause damage during storms
• Cared for trees don’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
• Pruned trees produce more flowers or fruit
• Pruned trees offer shade while still allowing air to flow throughout their canopies and your landscaping

MO Tree Trimming strongly encourages trimming trees that are very close to your home or any that are an integral part of your property.

Is Tree Trimming Necessary?

It is not required. But it is beneficial. Trees are very resilient and survive on their own everywhere in the world, in many different climates and regions, without being pruned.

That said, there are several benefits of tree trimming, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you care about. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and blossoming trees or trees that offer an important service for your home, such as shade or home to wildlife.

Tree Pruning Gone Wrong

Tree trimming is a difficult task. You are going to need the correct tools and a lot of knowledge to ensure the job is done right. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!

But that’s OK, because there are many professionals available who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all arborists in Missouri we work with!

Below are the 5 mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a certified arborist from MO 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 a never-ending process. Starting when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be care for by an expert if you care about them and intend to keep them strong and healthy.

A huge mistake that people make when pruning trees themselves is trimming too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they have 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 a once. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that there are no leaves, but a certified arborist is able to safely prune trees any time of year.

Removing Tree Bark

After you cut a tree limb and gravity starts to pull it down, it can rip bark from the trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, putting the tree in danger of attracting diseases and making it easier for insects to scurry their way in.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, a trained arborist makes special cuts underneath big branches before making their final removal cut. Knowing how to place these initial cuts takes pressure off the branch collar and lowers the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.

Trimming in the Wrong Place

A certified arborist knows where to trim each limb to protect against damage. This cut should occur just beyond the branch collar, the exact place where the branch connects to the tree trunk.

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

Trimming Large Branches

Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can cause imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and rot as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.

Conservative pruning annually ensures that the tree service company only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which leads to a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of harming the tree or exposing it to disease 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 just cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was not attractive nor beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of arborists do not practice tree topping currently.

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

The Solution? Call MO Tree Trimming

Let’s face it. Your tree may never recover from poor trimming.

Attempting this project yourself might seem like a good way to save a little money, but you might end up with way more cost trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s really safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in Missouri from MO Tree Trimming.

Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which can lead to odd shapes that could require years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one trimming mistake.

Improper pruning could also result in death of the tree. Cutting off too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can affect the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get all of the water it needs or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.

Cutting too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t necessarily permanent, but it takes a lot of care and patience. Even with the right care, a tree undergoing shock may still die.

Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call MO Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Missouri able to customize a long-term plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!

Trees are living organisms, so that means that they can get “sick” like humans and animals. A disease or other tree problem might take a little while to show appear due to the sheer size of the tree, and once symptoms become clear, it could be too late to revive the tree.

A certified arborist from MO Tree Trimming can identify and treat tree problems so that you have a much greater chance of saving the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an arborist help to keep a tree from dying, but they are also able to help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit with professional tree trimming.

Have you ever noticed a tree on your lawn that has always seemed OK but suddenly looks like something is wrong? In the next section, we’ll describe some of the most common tree issues and what these symptoms mean.

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

Tree Diseases & Common Problems

These 7 things are the most common issues encountered by experienced arborists in Missouri. Once you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the knowledge and tools to help!

Tree Diseases

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

Leaf rust is bad because it prevents the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be treated with fungicides and selective tree pruning of the affected leaves. It may be necessary to remove entire limbs with leaf rust.

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

Some cases of Witches’ Broom are fatal for the tree, others are just considered a growth malformation. An arborist can diagnose the problem.

Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on almost anything in moist conditions, but even when the wet conditions are over with, mildew can continue to thrive. Mildew usually appears as a powdery substance, typically white, and it usually shows up on the leaves of a tree first.

The the best method for treating mildew is to use a fungicide that includes sulfur. This will eliminate the current mildew and help to stop future mildew on the tree. You may also need to trim the tree to remove branches, fruit, flowers and any leaves that have been affected by the mildew

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

Gall appears as as bumps on the tree, in various 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 insects. You should also clean out from under the tree when the leaves fall off, because this is where the insects survive during winter months.

Other Tree Problems

Poor Pruning – There’s an art 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 a problem. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to trim trees in order to keep them healthy.

Lack of Water – Young trees can be severely impacted by drought. If you want to plant new trees, you will need to supplement how much water they get from rainfall. A tree that is not getting enough water will have its growth inhibited. The first sign you are likely to noticed is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.

Too Much Sun – Do your initial research before planting trees in a full-sun area of your property. Many types of trees can handle it without issue, but too much sun can become a problem for any tree if the sun is too hot for a long period and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting a lot of sun needs even more water to prevent wilting, drooping leaves.

Certified Arborist Services in Missouri

An experienced arborist from MO Tree Trimming will quickly diagnose what’s going on with your sick tree and put together a plan to save it.

Here are the things an arborist is trained to do:

• Review trees from the ground and from the limbs of the tree if necessary. Climbing into the canopy is typically necessary to identify exactly what is creating the symptoms.
• Treat your tree with additives and fertilizers in the dirt or products sprayed on the leaves. This person will have expert knowledge about the disease affecting your tree and the most effective treatments for it.
• Prune trees to eliminate 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 can survive both the problem and the pruning.
• Remove the tree from your property 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 home and surrounding landscape.

They can also educate you about the trees that you have om your property and how to best care for them so you don’t find yourself in the same situation in the future.

Many tree diseases look very similar to one another, requiring a professional eye to correctly identify and treat the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, disfigured or dying, call a professional arborist from MO Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late for your tree.

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

The type of tree often dictates when many species are able to be pruned, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other types of plants and trees nearby.

With the help of a professional arborist in Missouri, you can figure out what season is ideal for pruning your trees to prepare them for success next season and every year after that.

Best Season to Trim Trees

Without any other information, MO Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming in the winter. This would be sometime within November to March in most areas. Winter is best because the trees are usually dormant, so trimming will lead to a minimal amount of harm, if any.

There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees in the winter:

Lower risk of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are usually inactive in the winter in Missouri. During the remainder of the year, everything from insects to fungus can affect a freshly pruned tree because the tree is most vulnerable and these issues thrive during warmer weather.

Easier to see the shape of the tree when there are no leaves – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of your tree. When the tree branches are bare, it is much easier to see dead or diseased branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.

Trees can heal before spring – By doing this significant pruning in the winter, your trees have many months to rebuild callus tissue on the ends of the remaining branch collar. By the spring season, you’ll barely be able to identify where the branches were trimmed, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce brand new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers instead of healing new cuts.

Less chance of damaging surrounding landscape – Most of the nearby trees and plants will also be dormant, so there is a lower risk of damaging 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 months since these annuals already died out.

Do All Trees Need Pruning?

Yes, all trees can 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

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

Trimming trees every year is a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect infestations can be identified and dealt with right away.

A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better

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

Trimmed trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping problems. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, pruning will improve the results you desire from it.

Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming

If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree trimming is a necessity! Trimming trees results in an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is very important if you have a lot of identical trees on your property.

Cutting off lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall beauty of the tree while also strengthening tree health.

Less Chance of Dropping Branches

Tree pruning – from an arborist – encourages the remaining branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Missouri won’t affect your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around pruned trees.

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

Call MO Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning

Hiring a professional arborist in Missouri gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree trimming. We recommend relying on their expertise if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.

An arborist won’t just consider the current situation. Instead, an experienced arborist will take time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and factors that may put them at risk of disease or infestation). After collecting all of the information, an arborist will suggest a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that course of action until your goals for your trees are achieved.

This plan could take 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 fight off plant diseases and increase flower or fruit production from the trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.

Being proactive about tree trimming will save you a lot of money too. Preventative maintenance is much more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing an ill tree from a disease that has gotten out of hand (and one that was easily preventable).

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

Tree pruning in Missouri is an important professional service that beautifies and reinforces your trees so they can fight off pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look good while doing it!

Pruning must be done if you want healthy trees, but it must be done correctly by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from MO Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small and developing, but you also may do irreparable damage to the tree.

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

• When is the best time to prune your types of trees
• How much of the tree should be trimmed at a time
• Where to cut the branches so you do not harm the tree

Taking too much off of a tree can kill it or cause structural damage, but minimal trimming done each year benefits trees in several ways. Pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them healthier, eliminates dead or diseased portions and expedites fruit or flower production.

Ideally, pruning needs to be performed each year, but as trees get older, you might be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how often you have your trees trimmed, be sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call MO Tree Trimming in Missouri!

Types of Tree Pruning Methods

There are 7 different ways to correctly prune a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger year after year.

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

Crown Thinning Your Trees

Crown thinning is popular for older, overgrown trees in Missouri. This technique removes weak branches within the crown to improve sunlight and air flow throughout the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.

This pruning method also gets rid of branches and limbs that are touching so they no longer rub against one another and break or cause weakened areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Limbs that grow at strange angles are typically removed during crown thinning.

Crown Raising Your Trees

This tree trimming method only removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Letting low branches 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 a variety of reasons you might choose to raise the crown of a tree. Many times, it is done in order 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 common method for overgrown trees that are 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 horizontally and vertically to keep the tree at a manageable size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can eliminate the need to cut down the tree because it won’t interfere with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.

Even if the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction will make the tree look much better because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a smart idea for trees that are a variety of ages but are supposed to look uniform.

Crown Cleaning

Also known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive tree trimming technique that removes dying, broken or diseased branches so that the remaining sections of the tree may grow normally. These limbs can only cause problems over time.

Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it prevents limbs from rubbing together. And it is a safety practice that reduces the likelihood of falling branches, since healthy branches do not fall very often.

Crown Restoration

Crown restoration is a focused pruning technique used on trees that were severely damaged (either by pests or weather). It must only be attempted by a professional who knows how the tree is likely to grow over time and how long it’s restoration will take.

Unlike most other tree trimming services, crown restoration happens during an extended time period with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. The arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree grows and reshapes on its own, working with the tree’s new growth.

Vista Pruning

If you want trees that increase curb appeal, you are actually interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular vantage point.

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

Espalier Pruning

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

Some of the benefits of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it easier to harvest fruit.

Professional Tree Pruning in Missouri

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

Aside from the many dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t prune it correctly. Over-pruning is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners trimming their own trees.

Trees in Missouri that get routine care from a professional are much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from MO Tree Trimming to prune trees on your property is a decision you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists throughout the entire state of Missouri!

Planting a tree on your property has many benefits. Trees give summer shade, filter contaminated air and increase curb appeal and property value. Everyone should plant trees.

Once full-grown, most trees are very easy to care for: another benefit! Trees are durable and tend to grow despite minimal care. But, if you want to ensure your trees reach their potential, they need more effort.

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

Fortunately, caring for trees isn’t too complicated, but you will want a little information to do it right. Research the trees you plant in order to know exactly what they need. Then properly care for them and watch them bloom.

Here, we’ll list 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 deeper and explain how to do each step correctly.

Tree Care Tips for New Trees

These tips will not only help keep your trees alive, they’ll help them grow faster, resist extreme winds, fight off diseases and pests and create more leaves, flowers or fruit.

Water Your Tree

New trees need more water than older ones. The trees you plant are no exception.

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

The rule of thumb is 4-10 gallons of water every week. This includes rain water, and although it’s difficult to have an exact reading, a rain gauge can get you close enough to add the rest. Your trees need this much water every week for the initial 2-3 growing seasons.

Mulch Around Your Trees

Mulch is more than an attractive landscaping material. It also helps protect new trees, especially the roots underground. But laying mulch incorrectly can lead to rotting and decay – so much so, that the new tree will not survive.

Place mulch 3 inches away from the trunk of the tree and spread it around to completely cover the ground underneath the longest horizontal limb. For brand new trees, this won’t be very far, but as the tree continues to grow, your mulch area will also grow substantially.

Keep the mulch at least 2 to 4 inches thick in all areas. Be attentive in spreading it 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 the nutrients your soil might not naturally have. Most new trees can benefit from fertilizing, but you have to use the correct products and do it at the right time for fertilizer to be most impactful.

The perfect season to fertilize is early spring. Sometimes early summer provides the right conditions (mild temperatures and moist soil), but don’t count on it.

If you are unsure about which fertilizer to use, speak to a tree care professional for recommendations. Slow-release fertilizers are often a good idea because they feed your trees over time rather than all right away.

Follow through with these tasks in the initial growing seasons after planting a new tree, and then review your watering, mulching and fertilizing as the tree gets older. As time goes on, there will be additional tree care tasks that become more important for young trees.

Trim Your Tree

Tree pruning is very important – yet very tricky – in the first years after planting a tree. As the tree grows, you will start to see a lot of small branches take off, competing to become the trunk of the tree. While you may think this shows that the tree is healthy and that it is growing well, but it can actually lead to a very weak tree in the future.

Early trimming shapes the tree into what it is going to look like when it becomes much larger. As small branches emerge on the lower trunk, they need to be cut off so they don’t suck water and nutrients away from the upper branches.

So long as there are trees somewhere on your land, they need to be trimmed regularly. When the trees get too large for you to prune them safely, you can count on MO Tree Trimming to do it for you.

Monitor Your Tree

New trees are at the most risk for damage, disease and pest problems. But you’re never truly safe from these things. As your tree grows larger, monitor it closely for evidence of disease or poor nutrition, including the following:

• Leaf color changing out of season, especially leaves turning brown or yellow
• Early leaf drop, despite whether leaves appear healthy or sick
• Withering, regardless of proper watering
• Single branches dying
• Peeling bark

These signals likely mean a health problem. The tree is likely going to require professional maintenance if your hope is to save the tree. A certified arborist can identify the issue by just looking at the tree, although they will perform testing whenever necessary.

If you determine the problem quick enough, you will probably be able to save the tree from dying. Being proactive is the best course of action to protect younger trees.

The tips above are simple but effective. Don’t underestimate the importance of the basics! When your new trees have pruning, fertilizer and more,, combined with sunshine and barring severe, damaging weather, the chances are probable that they will survive and look beautiful too!

Of course, you may already have a full schedule and don’t really want to take on these additional tasks. In many cases, property owners don’t have the ability or the tools to give their new trees the necessary care.

No matter the situation, it’s a good idea to contact a tree company for caring for new trees. A professional arborist in Missouri can advise you about the course of care for each tree species you plant. They enjoy sharing their knowledge and skills with people planting new trees, and can make the difference between trees that struggle and trees thriving.

Call MO Tree Trimming now for information on routine tree maintenance in Missouri – including tree trimming – for newer trees and older trees. A local tree service will determine the best plan for your trees! Locate your city in our service area here.