To get the full benefit of shade trees, you have to plant the correct species of tree and care for them properly.

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

Planting Trees for Shade

Any tree can technically provide shade, but there are some types of trees that are built for optimal shade. These trees often have a thick, wider canopy that reaches out nearly as far as it does upward.

Below, we’ve provided some examples of shade trees depending on whether they would be best suited for your back or front yard.

Back Yard Shade Trees

Shade trees in the back yard are typically for the homeowner’s benefit. Next-door neighbors and passersby probably won’t be able to see these trees , so they can be planted purely for shade and enjoyment.

In addition to shade, these trees can create year-round color as well as some extra privacy from neighbors.

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 another fantastic choice. Live oaks are said to be the fastest growing shade trees, and are able to get very big. An older live oak can reach up to 80 feet tall and up to 100 feet wide.

A lot of these back yard tree suggestions get very large, so you definitely want to do some research to determine if the tree is going to have enough space to reach maturity.

If there is not enough room, its root system can destroy your fencing or home foundation. You will also have to prune the tree every year to keep it manageable. A tree that grows too big for its location will probably have to be cut down, which is an unfortunate and sometimes expensive 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 impactful for increasing value and curb appeal to your home than the back yard trees.

Purchase shade trees for the front yard that are a little smaller so they don’t overpower your home. These trees should complement your landscaping in size and color, while still creating 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 species trees are beautiful throughout the year, and they’ll display even more color in the fall months.
Another good option for your front or side yard is the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae. This hedge-like tree can be planted in a long row to create privacy as well as shade.

With options in mind, we recommend that you plant what you like. In reality, any type of tree can grow to become a “shade tree.” Assuming the trees you choose are suitable for the climate in Wisconsin, they will provide your yard and home with some shade.

Benefits of Planting Shade Trees

The reasons to have shade n your yard are numerous — and there are some that you probably don’t automatically think about.

Shade, Obviously – When temperatures soar, you don’t have to run indoors if you have a nice, shady yard. Set up a chair or hammock below your biggest shade tree and enjoy time outside as long as you like.

Climate Control – Trees can help regulate the temperature in your yard and inside your home. Not only will trees protect you from hot sun, but they can make it feel 10-15 degrees colder under their canopies. This translates to less solar radiation on your home as well, which should also result in lower energy costs!

Better Air Quality – Trees produce oxygen and filter out pollutants from the air, so there is healthier air around 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 squirrels and chipmunks are cute, your shade trees can give them all they will need to build a home, find food and raise babies.

Fun – What child doesn’t want a backyard tree fort or tire swing? If you have children, shade trees will provide hours of fun and joyful memories.

How to Care for Shade Trees

Maintaining shade trees is pretty easy as long as you’ve planted the type of trees for the weather in Wisconsin. Trees are strong and hardy after a couple of years, needing little attention or maintenance.

Consult a certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming if you have questions about how to care for your trees, or to help you determine the perfect tree for your home.

As soon as you have chosen the best shade tree(s), follow this simple care guide until your shade tree is fully grown.

Planting Your Shade Tree

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

Trimming Your Shade Tree

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

Watering Your Shade Tree

Watering a new tree is crucial. This will help them form a deep and strong root system and will give the tree stability in the long run.

Fertilizing Your Shade Tree

Fertilize a shade tree the same way you would any other tree in order to promote healthy growth. Fertilizer is not a requirement, but it can help your tree to grow faster and blossom more leaves, which are the source of your shade.

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

The post Best Trees to Plant for Shade appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.

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

This will result in stronger trees and a safer environment surrounding your landscaping for many reasons:

• Healthy trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during storms
• Cared for trees won’t attract or spread parasites and diseases
• Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
• Trimmed trees provide shade while still allowing air to flow through their canopies and your landscaping

WI Tree Trimming highly recommends trimming trees that are near your home or any that are a focus of your landscape.

Is Tree Trimming Necessary?

It is not necessary. But it is important. Trees are very hardy and survive on their own across the world, in a variety of different climates and locations, without being pruned.

However, there are many benefits of tree trimming, so it’s recommended for trees that you value. This includes 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 Trimming Gone Wrong

Tree pruning is a complex task. You are going to need the right tools and a lot of information to ensure the project is done right. The vast majority of homeowners don’t have either of these!

But that’s OK, because there are plenty of professionals available who know how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists in Wisconsin we partner with!

Here are the 5 mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to several tree problems. These are things that a trained arborist from WI Tree Trimming will know, and that’s exactly why their services are worth the price!

Trimming Too Much

When done properly, tree pruning is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are just 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by an arborist if you care about them and intend to keep them healthy.

A big mistake that homeowners make when pruning trees by themselves is trimming too much of the tree all at once. This occurs because they have let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to correct it all immediately. Ideally, you should not cut off more than 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a once. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that the leaves are off, but a certified arborist is able to safely trim trees any time of year.

Removing Bark from the Tree

When you cut a tree branch and gravity starts pulling it down, it can tear off bark from the trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, putting the tree in danger of contracting diseases and making it easier for pests and rodents to scurry their way in.

To stop this from occurring, a trained arborist makes special cuts underneath large branches before making their final removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these initial cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and limits the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.

Pruning in the Wrong Place

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

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

Pruning Large Branches

Branches larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be trimmed unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and decay as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.

Conservative trimming every year ensures that the company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less chance of damaging the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.

Topping the Tree

Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! During this process, arborists would cut the top off of the tree to achieve the desired height. It was not attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the majority of tree care companies do not practice tree topping currently.

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

The Solution? Call WI Tree Trimming

Here’s the truth. Your tree may never recover from bad trimming.

Attempting this project yourself might seem like a way to save 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 Wisconsin from WI Tree Trimming.

Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which can result in strange shapes that could require years to fix. The tree could end up looking bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single trimming error.

Improper trimming could also cause death of the tree. Cutting off too many limbs (and, therefore, leaves) can affect the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.

Cutting too many branches might also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t always permanent, but it takes a great deal of patience and care. Even with the right care, a tree experiencing shock may still die.

Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call WI Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in Wisconsin able to customize a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!

The post Tree Trimming Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.

A certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming can help you diagnose and treat common tree problems so that you have a much greater chance of keeping the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an arborist help to stop a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit.

Have you noticed a tree on your property that has always seemed OK but all of the sudden looks like something is wrong? In the next paragraphs, we’ll explain some of the most common tree issues and what these symptoms mean for a tree.

If you see any of these things, 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 problems encountered by certified arborists in Wisconsin. Once you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the training and equipment to help!

Tree Diseases

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

Leaf rust is dangerous because it interferes with the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be treated with fungicides and selective tree pruning of the diseased leaves. It might be necessary to remove whole branches with leaf rust.

Witches’ Broom – This common disease creates a large mass of twigs, dead leaves and branches that resemble a broom shape. It is caused by insects, unusually rainy weather or fungus. The formation of a clump of leaves and twigs is the tree’s reaction to infection or harm.

Some instances of Witches’ Broom are deadly for the tree, others are just considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.

Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on almost anything in wet conditions, but even when the moist conditions are over with, mildew can continue to thrive. Mildew appears as a powdery texture, typically white, and it often 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 existing mildew and help to stop future mildew growth on the tree. You might also need to prune the tree to remove limbs, fruit, flowers and leaves that have been affected by the mildew

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

Gall appears as as bumps on the tree, in varying sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some shade in between.

You do not have to treat the tree for galls, but they can inhibit the growth of young trees. Treat galls by killing the insects. You should also clean out from under the tree after the leaves fall off, since this is where the pests survive during winter.

Other Tree Problems

Improper 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 an issue. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to trim trees in order to keep them healthy.

Lack of Water – New trees can be severely affected by drought. If you plant new trees on your property, you will probably have to supplement the amount of water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water will have its growth stunted. The first sign you are likely to see is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.

Too Much Sun – Do some planning before planting trees in a full-sun area. Most types of trees can handle it just fine, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is harsh for an extended period of time and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting too much sun needs extra water to fight against wilting, drooping leaves.

Certified Arborist Services in Wisconsin

A trained arborist from WI Tree Trimming will quickly diagnose what’s going on with your sick tree and come up with a plan to rescue it.

Here are the things an arborist is trained to do:

• Review trees from the ground and from the branches of the tree if possible. Getting into the canopy is typically necessary to identify exactly what is creating the symptoms.
• Treat your tree through fertilizers and additives in the soil or products applied to the leaves. This person will have expert knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the best treatments for it.
• Trim tree limbs to eliminate dead or diseased branches and to help healthy growth. Even if heavy pruning is needed, they will know how to remove branches so that the tree can survive both the issue and the pruning process.
• Remove the tree from your property if there is no chance to save it. The worst case is that the tree is dying, and removing it is the best way to protect your property and surrounding landscape.

They can also educate you about the other trees that you have and how to best maintain them so you don’t return to the same situation again.

Some tree diseases look very similar to each other, requiring a professional eye to accurately diagnose and treat the issue. If your trees appear to be dry, disfigured or dying, call a professional arborist from WI Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late for your tree.

The post 7 Common Tree Problems & Diseases appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.

The type of tree will dictate when many species are able to be trimmed, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other species of plants and trees in the yard.

With the help of a professional arborist in Wisconsin, you can figure out which time of year is optimal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.

Best Season to Trim Trees

Without any other information, WI Tree Trimming recommends tree trimming during the winter. This would be sometime from November to March in Wisconsin. This season is optimal because trees are usually dormant, so trimming will cause the least amount of harm, if any.

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

Lower chance of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are mostly inactive in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly pruned tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.

Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of the tree. When the branches are bare, it is much easier to identify diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.

Trees can heal before spring – By performing major tree trimming during the winter, your trees have several months to rebuild callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring season, you’ll barely be able to notice where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce new leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.

Less chance of damaging nearby landscaping – Most of the nearby trees and greenery will also be dormant during this time, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Most of the time, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, 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 will benefit from pruning. Tree trimming each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family. Let us explain:

Pruning Makes the Tree Healthier

Dying and diseased branches are removed, as are branch stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub against one another are also pruned so they don’t weaken each other or cause an open wound on the tree.

Pruning trees every winter is a great way to get an expert’s opinion on the health of your trees so that early signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be spotted and handled as soon as possible.

A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better

When a tree becomes overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every branch. This can leave the tree looking scraggly and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.

Trimmed trees, on the other hand, blossom more fruit, healthier leaves and offer better shade. They are much fuller and healthier and less likely to create landscaping problems. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming each winter will maximize the results you desire from it.

Trees are More Beautiful After Pruning

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

Trimming lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.

Less Risk of Falling Branches

Tree trimming – from a professional – helps the remaining tree branches to grow stronger and healthier. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in Wisconsin won’t affect your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around trimmed trees.

Another safety issue for large trees is that they impede 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 WI Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning

Hiring a certified arborist in Wisconsin gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree trimming. We highly recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.

An arborist doesn’t only consider the current situation. Instead, he or she will take time to research your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and factors that could put them at risk of disease or infestation). After gathering all the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on the trees’ needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are achieved.

This plan could require years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to 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 trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.

Being proactive about tree care can save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage restoration or curing an ill tree of a disease that has spread out of hand (and one that was easily preventable).

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

The post What is the Best Season for Tree Pruning? appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.

Pruning should be performed if you want healthy trees, but it needs to be done correctly by someone who knows what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming. Homeowners may be able to prune trees safely while they are small, but you also may be doing permanent damage to the tree in the process.

To correctly prune trees, you must know all of the following:

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

Pruning too much off of a tree could kill it or cause structural damage, but conservative trimming done annually benefits trees in many ways. Pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, eliminates dying or diseased limbs and increases fruit or flower production.

For the best results, pruning must be completed every year, but as trees get older, you may be able to go two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees pruned, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call WI Tree Trimming in Wisconsin!

Types of Tree Pruning Methods

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

Depending on the size, species and health concerns of your trees, one method could be more beneficial than another, but each technique has different benefits.

Crown Thinning Your Trees

Crown thinning is typical for older, overgrown trees in Wisconsin. This method removes weak branches within the crown to allow more sunlight and air flow within the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.

This tree pruning method also removes branches that are touching so they no longer rub against one another and break or cause weaker areas that can be an access point for insects and pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are usually cut off during crown thinning.

Crown Raising Your Trees

This trimming technique removes branches and limbs at the lowest part of the crown so new limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too large makes them very hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weaker tree.

There are a variety of reasons you may choose to raise the crown of a tree. Frequently, it is done in order to clear the line of sight for cars and pedestrians, but it can also be done to make space for landscaping under the tree.

It is a common technique for large trees that are close to homes and other buildings.

Crown Reduction

Crown reduction reduces the total size of the crown from its outer edge. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to keep the tree at a certain size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can remove the need to cut down the tree because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.

Even if the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction can make the tree look much better because it also eliminates irregular growth. This is a great idea for trees that are various ages but are supposed to look consistent.

Crown Cleaning

Sometimes known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of trimming method that removes dying, broken or diseased limbs so that the remaining sections of the tree can grow normally. These limbs can only cause problems in the future.

Crown cleaning helps to make the tree look much better, and it stops branches from rubbing together. Plus it is a safety practice that reduces the likelihood of branches falling, since healthy branches rarely fall.

Crown Restoration

Crown restoration is an advanced trimming process for trees that have been significantly damaged (either by pests or weather). It needs to only be done by a certified arborist who knows how the tree is likely to grow in the future and roughly how long it’s restoration is going to take.

Unlike most other tree trimming services, crown restoration happens during a longer period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. An arborist must have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth pattern.

Vista Pruning

If you are hoping for trees to help improve the overall beauty of your landscaping, you are most likely interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more visually pleasing from a particular viewing point.

It encompasses several pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – anything that makes the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that an arborist will never sacrifice the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.

Espalier Pruning

Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against a wall or a trellis. It is a unique style of trimming that is going to attract a lot of attention to your yard. Espalier pruning should be started when the tree is very young and then done consistently throughout the tree’s life span.

Benefits of espalier pruning include allowing maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it much easier to harvest fruit.

Professional Tree Pruning in Wisconsin

Tree pruning can be harmful to a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! WI Tree Trimming highly recommends professional tree pruning over DIY.

Besides the many dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t prune it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners caring for their own trees.

Trees in Wisconsin that get routine care from a professionals are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from WI Tree Trimming to trim the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of Wisconsin!

The post Types of Tree Pruning appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.

Once completely grown, trees are pretty simple to care for: another benefit! They are hardy and tend to grow despite minimal care. But, if you want to see your trees achieve their potential, they need more effort.

Lack of care for new trees might cause rotting, disease, under watering or pest problems.

The good news is that caring for trees isn’t very difficult, but you will want a little information to do it correctly. Educate yourself with the new trees you plant to know what they need to succeed. Then care for them and watch them bloom.

Here, we’ll explain the five best practices for planting a new tree and seeing it grow. You likely are familiar with the basics, so let’s dive a little deeper and explain how to complete each step correctly.

Tree Care Tips for New Trees

These five tips will not only keep trees alive, they’ll help them grow much faster, stand up to strong winds, fight off diseases ,insects and pests and produce more leaves, buds or fruit.

Water Your Tree

New trees need more water than well-established ones. The trees you plant are no exception.

The root ball of the tree and the soil all 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 challenging to have an exact reading, a rain gauge can get you close enough to add the rest. Your trees will need this much water every week for the initial 2-3 growing seasons.

Mulch Around Your Trees

Mulch is more than an attractive lawn care material. It helps protect new trees, especially the roots. But laying mulch incorrectly can cause rotting and decay – so much so, in fact, that it’s possible that the tree will not survive.

Place mulch 3 inches away from the tree trunk and spread it around to completely cover the ground underneath the longest horizontal limb. For brand new trees, this isn’t going to be very far, but as the tree grows, your mulch area will continue to grow as well.

Keep the mulch 2 to 4 inches thick in all areas around the tree. Be attentive in keeping it spread out consistently and away from the tree trunk so it does not impede air flow around the tree trunk.

Fertilize Around Your Tree

Fertilizer provides nutrients that your soil may not naturally have. Most young trees benefit from fertilizing, but you need to use the right products and do it at the correct time in order for fertilizer to be most impactful.

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

If you aren’t sure about which fertilizer to use, consult a tree care professional for advice. Slow-release fertilizers are often a good idea because they feed your trees over time rather than all at once.

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

Prune Your Tree

Tree pruning is very important – but very challenging – in the early years after planting a tree. As the tree grows bigger, you may see many small branches take off, competing to become the tree’s trunk. You may think this means that the tree is healthy and that it is growing well, it can actually lead to a very weak tree in the future.

Early pruning helps to shape the tree into what it will look like when it gets much larger. As tiny limbs emerge on the lower trunk, they have to be cut off so they don’t suck water and nutrients from the upper branches.

As long as you have trees growing on your land, they need to be pruned regularly. When the tree gets too big for you to prune them safely, you can count on WI 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 gets larger, monitor it closely for evidence of disease or bad nutrition, including the following:

• Leaf color changing out of season, with leaves turning yellow or brown
• Early leaf falling, despite whether these leaves look healthy or sick
• Withering, even with adequate watering
• Individual branches or limbs dying
• Peeling bark

These signs indicate a health issue. The tree is likely going to require professional maintenance if your plan is to keep the tree alive. A certified arborist can usually diagnose the problem by just looking at your tree, although they will perform testing if necessary.

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

The steps above are basic yet effective. Don’t underestimate the value of the basics! When your new trees have pruning, fertilizer and more,, combined with sunshine and barring any severe, damaging weather, the chances are in your favor that the tree will survive and look wonderful!

Of course, you could already have a full schedule and don’t want to perform these additional lawn care projects. In some cases, homeowners don’t have the physical ability to give their new trees the appropriate maintenance.

Whatever the situation, it’s a good idea to contact a tree company for caring for new trees. A certified arborist in Wisconsin can advise you about the course of care for each tree species you plant on your property. They enjoy sharing their knowledge and skills with people planting new trees, and can make the difference between trees struggling and trees that thrive.

Call WI Tree Trimming now for information on routine tree maintenance in Wisconsin – including tree trimming – for new trees and old trees. An arborists will determine the best plan for your trees! Locate your city in our service area here.

The post How to Care for New Trees appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.

• Adequate water
• Nutrients, via soil and fertilizer, whenever necessary 
• Mulching occasionally 
• Pruning, every few years when your trees are young, then annually as they mature 

The first three of these are fairly easy to achieve. Mother Nature herself takes care of most of what trees need. 

When tree canopies become too thick, the tree will begin to suffer. You won’t see as many beautiful blooms, or it won’t produce as much fruit as it has in years past. 

To remedy this, prune trees regularly. It may seem like an intimidating task, but given the right preparation, you can do your own tree trimming. 

Tips for Trimming a Tree 

If you feel more comfortable calling a professional tree trimmer from WI Tree Trimming right off the bat, that’s absolutely fine! Our network of certified arborists do a great job and can (hopefully) become partners in your tree care journey. 

But if you decide to give it a try yourself, here are a few helpful tips: 

Clean and sharpen your pruning tools. 

Cleaning your tools before use will reduce the chance of transferring diseases. Keeping them sharp makes the job a lot less frustrating, and it’s much better for the tree to leave behind clean cuts rather than jagged edges.  

Learn the parts of the tree.

This includes branch collars and branch bark ridges. These parts are important to know because they affect where you will make your cuts. Once you can confidently identify these things on the trees you want to trim, follow these basic guidelines: 

• Leave limbs that form 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock upward angles. This is the optimal angle for healthy branches. 
• Cut limbs just past the branch collar (moving away from the trunk). If you make your cut in the right place, you won’t damage the branch collar, but you won’t leave a limb stub, either. 

Identify branches and smaller limbs that will need to be removed. 

Branches that need to be removed include hanging branches, crossing branches, water sprouts, and broken limbs. These types of branches affect the appearance of the tree, and they drain valuable nutrients from good branches. 

Spend time studying the tree before you start cutting. 

Don’t remove more than 25% of the tree’s canopy. 

This cardinal rule of tree trimming will prevent your tree from going into shock. 

Taking off more than this could result in trauma to the tree, meaning it will be yet another year before you can expect to see blooms or fruit. In worst case scenarios, taking too many limbs can kill the tree.

Always trim small limbs and new growth around the base of the tree trunk.  

Sometimes called “suckers,” these small upshots will drain a tree’s resources faster than anything else. Some can be snapped off even with the trunk, but others will need to be pruned off cleanly with shears. 

In some cases, you may be able to the remove the sapling, pot it in rich dirt, and nurture it until you can transplant it back into the ground somewhere else. 

Don’t trim too often. 

Mature trees will only need to be trimmed once every 3-5 years. Younger trees may need more frequent pruning. Experts recommend every 2-3 years. This doesn’t include yearly maintenance, such as removing a dead or broken limb.  

However, there are exceptions. An evergreen may never need to be trimmed since it doesn’t produce fruit or blooms, while fruit trees may need annual trimming to maximize production. 

Research the type of trees you have, taking their age into account, to determine the frequency of pruning that is necessary. 

When to Consider
Professional Tree Pruning?

It’s a lot of information to take in, and no one will blame you if it’s something you just don’t want to deal with. But one thing is for certain. The healthiest, most productive trees need periodic care, including trimming. 

There are many benefits of tree trimming, especially when it’s done by a trained professional: 

• Promote healthy growth and keep an eye out for diseases. It’s easy to spot the first signs of disease when you’re up close to the tree pruning, so you can treat them early and have a better chance of saving your tree. 
• Protect structures around the trees. Damaged branches – along with branches that are just very heavy – are a danger to anything beneath them. High winds and storms can break large branches and cause them to fall on roofs, landscaping and vehicles. 
• Maximize blooms or fruits. The key to a more productive tree isn’t necessarily more branches. The quality of the branches that remain is just as important as how many potentially fruitful branches exist. When you prune effectively, you’ll also get larger, healthier fruits or blooms. 

The advantages of hiring a professional are plentiful. The argument that some DIY enthusiasts use is that professional tree trimming is too expensive. Yes, it can be costly, but if you value your trees and want to keep your landscaping looking beautiful for years to come, it’s an investment that is worth the money. 

A few reasons to use a professional arborist from WI Tree Trimming for tree trimming include the following: 

• Safer practices. While your methods may be daring, a pro is going to go the extra mile to protect themselves, your property, and surrounding landscaping. They come prepared with safety equipment and the knowledge to cut limbs to minimize the risk of danger or damage to surrounding property. 
• Guaranteed results. Highly trained professionals can guarantee results, so whether you want uniformity or more fruit production each year, someone with years of experience will be able to provide the information and services needed to produce the results you’re after. 

Better investment. Short-term, it may seem like a good investment to buy the tools to do the job yourself. But what most people don’t think about is the years that it takes to become proficient enough with these saws, pruning shears, and harnesses to produce the same results.

WI Tree Trimming is a network of insured, certified arborists throughout Wisconsin trained and experienced to handle your tree trimming needs! Additional services include tree removal, stump grinding and more. Questions? Contact us here or call 844-609-2009 during business hours.

TREE TRIMMING SERVICE AREA

WI Tree Trimming serves the entire state of Wisconsin including:

Brown County • Dane County • Dodge County • Kenosha County • Milwaukee County • Racine County • Sheboygan County • Waukesha County • Winnebago County
& MORE!

The post DIY Tree Trimming Tips appeared first on WI Tree Trimming.