Why Trees and Shrubs Need a Care Plan

Many conscientious property owners pay special attention to their lawns throughout the year.  They spend time mowing, watering, seeding, and fertilizing their grass in order to provide for the best environment for healthy growth and stabilization of a strong root system.  Did you know that special attention also needs to be given to your trees and shrubs?

All too often, people tend to take the strength of landscaped trees and shrubs for granted.  Even though they don’t usually require the same amount of attention as green grasses do, they will thrive easier and better with a tree and shrub care plan.
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For many shrubs and trees that are already planted around your lawn, one thing to watch for is leaning or a “falling” appearance of the plant.  If you have a shrub or tree (that isn’t too mature) that is leaning, you can use stakes around the perimeter of the plant in order to prop or pull it back to an upright position.

Mulching around the perimeter of a tree or shrub is also very beneficial for the plant.  Mulch (such as wood chips or pine needles) protects the roots of the plant and helps to hold in moisture.  Mulch also protects the trees or shrubs from being hit with lawn maintenance equipment, such as a mower or weed eater.  A few inches of mulch should suffice for enough protection.

Pruning is another practice that is very beneficial for trees and shrubs.  Any diseased or dead branches should be pruned.  Diseased branches should be cut off in order to prevent the disease from spreading to healthy branches, and dead branches should be removed so they don’t fall and cause damage to the surrounding landscape or to your home.

Most trees or shrubs do not require much water the older they become.  However, for younger specimens (a couple of years old or younger), it is important to ensure adequate moisture throughout the year.  Remember that surrounding mulch helps to ensure that moisture will stay with the shrub or tree, so re-mulch as needed (especially for younger plants, too).

Feeding your trees and shrubs is also a crucial step to providing a healthy environment for these plants.  That’s where Mighty Green can help.  It’s important to conduct soil tests to determine what nutrients your trees and shrubs need or what they are getting too much of.  If you over-fertilize, you could put the plant’s root system in danger.  Too much fertilizer can “burn” the root of a plant, and would lead to illness for the plant, itself.  Our tree and shrub care program includes an overall evaluation of the health of your plants, disease treatments, insect and pest treatments, and fertilizer and nutrient treatments.
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Hopefully, you can use some of the tips listed above to help guide you when caring for your shrubs or trees.  Similar to lawn care, these larger plants also need some special treatment every now and then, too.  You will be rewarded with beautiful, strong, thriving trees and shrubs that will last for many years.  That is a sign of one good investment.

Contact Us today for a free estimate on our tree and shrub care program!