Tree care includes all actions taken to ensure the well-being of individual trees including preventive measures such as proper planting and pruning, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries by specialized personnel trained in arboriculture
Understanding Tree Care
Tree care is the process where a tree’s health and vigor is maintained in order to sustain its long-term existence, encourage quality growth, and reduce risks from hazardous conditions. The methods involved vary among different countries. In the United States, particularly in urban or suburban settings, professional tree care may be synonymous with urban forestry while a person who cares for a specimen located within a private home’s yard might be considered a domestic gardener rather than a professional arborist.
Arboricultural practices may also be referred to as “tree surgery” if carried out during health problems but not when removing deadwood or stubs after a storm has damaged them beyond recovery. Tree surgeons are people who carry out arboricultural practices and similar maintenance tasks rather than domestic gardeners whose work is confined to their own homes and gardens.
What are the ways for tree care?
As gardeners prepare for the autumn planting season, they should consider tree care to help their trees survive winter. Fall is an excellent time to prune trees and shrubs , but it’s important not to remove too much wood or branches that are large enough to protect the stem or trunk against damaging weather.
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The best way to prepare trees for winter is to remove ■■■■ or dying branches.
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Be sure to prune each tree during its dormant season-in the autumn, after leaves have fallen from the tree. Pruning in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins, can cause fresh cuts to heal slowly and may lead to dieback at the pruning site.
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Use sharp, sanitized pruning tools when cutting limbs from a tree. Cutting branches with dull or dirty tools can damage the tree and lead to infection of wounds where bacteria and fungi can enter the plant’s tissues.
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For oak trees , use care in selecting which branches to cut back, because these trees are susceptible to oak wilt, a serious fungal disease.
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When removing branches from oak trees, make clean cuts at least 6 inches away from the main trunk or scaffold limb of the tree to help prevent entry of fungi into the tissue of the tree.
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Maintain a balanced structure for shade and fruit trees. Lop off branches that are too tall or too short, and remove some of the smaller branches so larger-diameter wood remains for winter protection.
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Remove crossing and rubbing branches to prevent injuries from abrasion in storms.
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Thin a tree’s canopy by removing small limbs around the perimeter of a tree to let more sunlight reach the grass below.
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Prune branches by cutting them back to an outward-facing bud that faces away from the center of the tree trunk or branch. Make cuts at a 45 degree angle, leaving small stubs rather than flush cuts to allow for faster healing .
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If your pruning cuts cause sap to flow from the trunk or branch, wipe the area with a rag soaked in rubbing alcohol.
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It’s also important not to prune too much wood when shaping trees and shrubs. Removing large branches-or more than 25 percent of the canopy -can weaken a tree and leave it vulnerable to winter damage and disease.
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Prune young trees-those less than five years old-very lightly to avoid unnecessary stress. Use your judgment about how much to prune, because too little can cause growth problems and lessen future value and fruit production . Cut off large branches back to the main trunk or an outward-facing bud .
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Don’t cut back woody perennials to the ground. It might not grow back, so prune lightly on young plants during their first few growing seasons .
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If you need to remove scaffold limbs-those on which fruit trees are trained-be sure there are at least three remaining branches that can support the tree’s weight.
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Remove any limbs that rub against each other. This can damage the bark and lead to infection of the wood and slow or stop sap flow, which can lead to dieback of branches and eventual death of the limb.
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It’s always better to remove ■■■■, dying, or diseased branches than let them remain in place. If a branch is too large to prune in spring or early summer, remove it at its base. This can help prevent decay fungi from entering the trunk .
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Always disinfect your pruning tools before using them on another tree to prevent the spread of disease from one plant to another.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
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Evaluate outdoor space | Non experienced people can cause excessive pruning |
Suggest how to enhance space | You may get wrong suggestions from the wrong people |
Suggest tree treatment | Wrong suggestions may cause major issues |
Saves time | High costs |
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When you’re working with new varieties of plants, cut off any new growth that is the wrong size or shape.
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Thin out new buds that are crowded together on branches to increase air circulation and prevent disease .
Summary: Prune back tips of branches to about 4 inches long on fruit trees planted in hedgerows to keep the plant structure uniform and the fruit within easy reach.
Best Way to Protect Plants From Frost
Here is a list of ways to protect trees from frost
1.Protect the trunk of the tree from frost by wrapping it with a blanket or sheet, or moving it into a warm location.
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Water trees well before freezing temperatures are expected. Moist soil is less likely to freeze than dry soil is, and trees require adequate water for healthy growth, especially during periods of cold weather.
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Avoid getting water on the bark of the tree when watering as this can lead to decay or damage if ice forms on the trunk due to freezing temperatures.
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Bring potted plants indoors if at all possible before nighttime temperatures reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing point). Keep them in an unheated room that’s between 50 and 55 degrees overnight while temperatures remain near or below freezing, and bring them back outside in the morning when temperatures rise above freezing.
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Insulate young and newly planted trees from late-season frosts by covering their bark with a blanket, sheet or plastic covering made of lightweight material such as cloth or plastic. Secure the coverings to the trunk with twine around the base to keep it secure in windy conditions. Uncover or remove covers once nighttime temperatures remain consistently above 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing point).
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Avoid pruning away any deadwood on trees before cold weather has passed; this weakens the tree’s structure and could cause branches to break if they freeze and thaw repeatedly. Wait until springtime to assess damage and make any necessary repairs after frost danger passes for your particular area.
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Remove any ice accumulations from the branches of trees with a broom to prevent limb breakage while thawing occurs.
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Spray fruit trees with water during the day to prevent damage from cold temperatures, and remove any fruit or nuts from the tree to prevent them from freezing, which could cause cracking on the exterior of the fruit. Prune back damaged twigs and branches once temperatures rise above 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing point).
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Move container plants into a garage, shed or other structure that maintains a temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit if you don’t have a place indoors where they can remain undisturbed by extreme cold conditions for several nights at a time. Cover pots with sheets to protect against frost accumulation.
Summary : and Bring hardy outdoor plants indoors to protect them from frost before it occurs, or move potted plants into an unheated garage or basement for the duration of subfreezing weather conditions that persist for more than three days at a time. Use caution when moving plants around in the dark so you don’t injure yourself on sharp branches or uneven terrain, and wait until all threat of frost has passed to relocate plants back outside.
Why to hire tree care services?
Reasons to hire professional services include:
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Tree care takes time, effort, and skill to perform appropriately. Hiring a professional tree service will ensure that it is done correctly, time after time. There is little room for error when it comes to caring for live plant material, proper technique is crucial in ensuring the health of trees and shrubs.
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Professionals have extensive knowledge of pruning techniques as well as years of experience behind them which guarantees quality results every visit. Visits from a qualified arborist can be scheduled at most any frequency you would like depending on your needs; these visits are designed to identify potential damage early on before it becomes an overwhelming problem.
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A professional will have a trained eye that can see small areas of damage or evidence of weakness that may appear otherwise to the untrained eye. This is why it is important to hire a qualified arborist for your needs as opposed to attempting to do the work on your own, which could end up causing more harm than good. In addition, they also know what signs indicate problems with soil composition and nutrient availability as well as pest infestation, preventing possible damage from occurring due to neglect later down the road.
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When you rely on a regular service for maintaining your trees and plants you are sure to get superior results over those achieved by simply going into the yard yourself day after day and performing the work on your own. The results of a professional are almost always beyond compare, providing beautiful landscapes that are healthy, well maintained, and free from damage.
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Having professionals maintain your trees guarantees you will get higher value for your money by preventing extensive or irreparable damage to your shrubs or trees in the future. A trained certified arborist knows how to prepare for possible problems before they even begin which ensures you remain worry free about any damages later on down the line.
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A regular service will keep people who might not be able to care for their own yards safe from harm by having experts maintain them instead. Anyone who has trouble reaching limbs due to illness, disability, or age would greatly benefit from a professional service that can maintain their trees for them safely.
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A certified arborist is trained to identify common types of tree damage and disease, they will be able to make recommendations on how best to deal with any potential problems before they become serious enough to cause lasting damage or dieback of foliage or branches. They are capable of providing solutions that will correct the problem without posing harm to you, your family members or pets who happen upon the area where work is being performed.
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Arborists are also familiar with many different species of plant material, offering guidance on proper planting techniques as well as how trees should be pruned so as not injure one another when planted too closely together in areas where space is limited, which is very common in many areas of the country.
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A qualified arborist will be able to identify potential problems with soil compaction or nutrient availability; they can provide solutions on how to correct these problems in order to keep your trees and plants healthy for years to come. Depending on their certification levels, an arborist may also be capable of recommending fertilizers that would need to be applied in order for you to achieve optimal health without over or under applying the product.
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When you hire a service for tree care, you can ensure that it is done safely, without risk of injury whatsoever when using proper rigging techniques with the right equipment. Anyone who has trouble climbing ladders due to age, weight, or physical disability would greatly benefit from a service that can maintain their trees for them safely and efficiently.
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With frequent professional maintenance you will be able to achieve optimum safety in terms of fire hazard prevention by limiting the spread of fire due to ■■■■ branches caught alight when not properly cared for. A qualified arborist will also know how severe weather conditions affect healthy tree growth as well as what precautions should be taken in order to prevent damage prior to severe storms so you’ll never have to worry about falling limbs harming your property or loved ones following storm activity ever again.
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You’ll find it beneficial to hire an expert because they will provide suggestions on ways that you can improve your yard’s health anyway. Arborists are experienced gardeners who can suggest everything from proper mulching techniques to fertilization plans so your yard will look healthy and vibrant year-round.
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A certified arborist can provide you with weekly or monthly reports on all work performed so that you’ll never have to worry about tree care maintenance again. This is useful for anyone who wishes to remain hands-off when it comes time to handle their landscaping needs because they won’t have to lift a finger in order to achieve beautiful results over the years.
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Arborists are happy to answer questions that may come up related special events like weddings or family gatherings where extra lighting needed around the yard, having them maintain your trees means they’ll be in prime condition if you decide to hold an event in your yard or they can be cut back to ensure that spaces beneath them will allow for gatherings without the possibility of anyone being hit by a falling branch.
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During holidays, such as Halloween and Christmas, hiring a professional arborist ensures that any decorations utilizing hanging branches from trees are out of harm’s way so no one will have to worry about dangerous tree limbs breaking off and landing on vehicles, homes or people.
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If you find yourself working extended hours during the week or take frequent business trips, an arborist is able to provide ongoing maintenance so your landscape always looks its best while you aren’t there to do it yourself. Tasks performed include pruning, fertilization and pest control application.
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A number of private citizens choose to take advantage of tree service because it provides them the opportunity to save time and money by delegating this responsibility instead of doing it themselves or hiring someone less experienced who may not have their best interests in mind.
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If you find some tasks too dangerous for you to handle yourself, such as removing ■■■■ limbs that are hanging over structures like your home or pool area; an arborist can remove these limbs safely with specialized equipment without risking any damage done to these structures. This applies across the board if any branches are obstructing windows, doors or siding on your house or even overhead utility lines that would require skilled hands in order to ensure that repairs are done safely.
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Anyone who is able to afford it should take advantage of professional tree care services because they can help you achieve your landscaping dreams by offering advice on the best plants, flowers, and bushes for your yard so you have a gorgeous private oasis on your hands at all times without needing to rely on an extension ladder or risking life and limb attempting tasks which require specialized training like pruning or tree felling.
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An arborist is trained specifically in handling trees, shrubs, and other flora; giving them the ability to do things like remove ■■■■ wood from living trees which regular gardeners may not be capable of doing safely or effectively, but they will know how to do this without damaging surrounding foliage.
Summary :
An arborist is also able to treat trees with chemicals in order to protect them against things like insects and ■■■■■■ which may damage their health in the long term in addition to knowing how these chemical treatments affect surrounding plants, flowers, or trees; making it safe for them to work near shrubs, bushes, grass, and other flora without risking any damage done.
Frequently Asked questions
Here, is a list of frequently asked questions
1. Could you recommend any tools I might need to maintain my trees?
Here is a list of tools needed
Hand Pruner
Lopper
Pruning Saw
Rope Saw
Chain Saw
Pole Pruner
2. What is Tree Care?
Tree care is a term that collectively refers to all actions undertaken for the purpose of maintaining or increasing a tree’s health, vigor, and value. It includes, but is not limited to:
3. What is Tree Pruning?
Tree pruning is one of those maintenance procedures which aim at removing deadwood as well as corrective measures that would improve structural stability. The old practice was to cut off large branches from lower parts of the trunk repetitively in order to keep them within manageable range – thus reducing their weight – and slow down rot progress.
4. Why is Structural Purging more convenient
than pruning?
This practice has been largely abandoned because it often results in unsightly wounds and provides an easy access point for pests and diseases. A new approach called ‘structural pruning’ emerged. Its goal is to maintain the integrity of the tree’s structure and the relationship of different parts to one another.
This means that branches are cut selectively in order to maintain a silhouette in keeping with the mature appearance, preserve the health and vigor of the whole crown and ensure a well-balanced distribution of branches throughout the canopy. According to The American National Standard Institute (ANSI A300) “The basic objective when pruning is to balance structural retention with vegetative growth”.
In addition to removing deadwood, corrective measures such as branch shortening that improve stability are used only when necessary. In some cases it may be enough that a single branch is pruned, thus reducing weight on a specific part of the trunk or major limb junction. There is no need for weakening other stable components of the crown by over-pruning that can result in their breakage.
5. What are the Limitations of Pruning?
Tree Pruning is the method of removing deadwood and corrective measures aimed at improving structural stability through selective cutting of branches. For this purpose one branch is removed at a time following common-sense principles will ensure a well-balanced tree with a natural appearance.
Pruning is a precise operation requiring considerable expertise and skill. Inexperienced persons should never attempt to prune a tree unless they have been adequately trained in proper pruning techniques.
The risk of causing serious damage not only to the tree but also to people and property remains high even when using conventional, nonpowered tools such as hand shears or pole saws. Such practice may be highly dangerous because trees are large organisms possessing an enormous weight even when apparently ■■■■, dry or dormant.
Even branches many feet from the ground exert a tremendous pull on supporting trunk and root structure because of their weight. Branches were broken during such operations often remain suspended above head height after being severed from the trunk.
6. Why unprofessional should not attempt Treecare?
Any attempt by an untrained person to trim a tree may result in serious injury or death. This is especially true when working at great heights or with power tools such as chainsaws and pole saws. The only foolproof way to ensure efficient, safe pruning of large trees is to have them pruned by a qualified arborist
7. What is the process of tree shaping?
Tree Shaping is the process of maintaining the tree’s structure and the relationship of different parts to one another through selective branch removal aimed at providing an overall more pleasing silhouette than that provided by corrective measures alone.
8. What is the process of crown thinning?
Crown Thinning is the removal of all branches from an above head height down to the desired minimum clearance, which ensures adequate light ■■■■■■■■■■■ through the canopies as well as allowing safe entry into confined areas such as attics and crawl spaces. For this purpose, a trained arborist should be consulted because it may require special rope access equipment or even aerial bucket truck access.
9. What is the process of crown raising?
Crown Raising is the method of removal of all unwanted lower branches only, eliminating interference from ground level up to the desired level of clearance that ensures safe passage around and under the tree. This type of pruning is commonly carried out by homeowners and does not require any special equipment.
10. What is the process of Crown Reduction?
Removal of all branches from selected areas of a tree without changing the total volume or spread of the crown. The goal is to create an aesthetically pleasing canopy rather than one that appears thick or heavy.
Conclusion
Tree care is an important and necessary profession that requires a lot of knowledge and attention to detail. There are many things you can do for your trees including pruning, fertilizing, watering, mulching, trimming ■■■■ branches or leaves.
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