When you want to keep your trees as healthy as possible, there are a number of different practices and techniques that will make a big impact. In Part I of this series on keeping your trees healthy, we looked at the first five of the ways to keep your trees happy and vibrant. Hiring our Vermont-based tree service company is one of the best ways to ensure that your trees are well cared for. We offer pruning, removal, insect and disease management, root collar correction, and more. Call Wise Oak today to find out more about what we can do to ensure the wellbeing of your trees!
#1: Fertilize
In their natural environment, the forest, trees are regularly fertilized by all the natural plant material that breaks down and fertilizes the soil around them. However, in our yards, there is much less decomposing material than in the forest, which can lead to nutrient-deficiency. The way we can solve this problem is by applying a slow-release fertilizer regularly into the soil for their roots to absorb. Testing your soil regularly to identify if some essential element (e.g. (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) is missing is also a good idea to ensure the wellbeing of your trees.
#2: Prune
It can seem counterintuitive at first, but pruning your trees is very important when it comes to improving their health. When we prune trees in Vermont, we focus on removing deadwood and helping improve the tree's overall structure so that it can maximize its growth potential and look more beautiful. The best time to prune a tree is when it is dormant (usually during the colder seasons) and has few, if any, leaves on it. Summer pruning should generally focus on clearing out small, dead, or damaged branches. Read more about Wise Oak’s pruning services here.
#3: Identify Diseases Early
Trees rarely need much help from humans to stay alive and continue growing. However, it’s a good idea to keep a close watch on them anyway, as there are many diseases that can infect a tree, depending on its species. Disease outbreaks often occur seasonally, and vary from region to region and by species. One of the most common diseases that infects our trees in Virginia is Beech Bark Disease. As the name suggests, this disease impacts beech trees with a combination of insects and fungus. Early signs of Beech Bark Disease are white wooly wax dots on the bark. If the bark is cut away, an orange color will be present on the inner layer. This will eventually lead to the girdling of the tree, preventing nutrients from flowing from the roots up to the branches. Trees with these kinds of diseases are also prone to other types of fungus, damage, and environmental factors. There are various ways to treat Beech Bark Disease. If you notice anything odd, like insects or fungus, on your trees, call Wise Oak today to get it taken care of before it’s too late!
#4: Walk Your Property
The best way to stay informed about the health of your trees is to walk your property regularly and look closely at them. Check for signs of insect activity, dead twigs, mushroom growth, or strange spots on the leaves. Walking your property also just so happens to be a great way to relax and enjoy nature. Using Wise Oak’s tree and yard management services will enhance this effect, taking all the extra yard work off your hands for you and improving the quality and wellbeing of your yard and its trees.
#5: Book a Checkup
It’s a wise decision to trust expert arborists to check up on your trees every once in a while. If you haven’t gotten your trees checked up before, it almost always leads to some new improvements for your trees’ health that you simply didn’t know they needed. Spotting signs of diseases and pests can be a subtle skill. When you hire Wise Oak for your annual tree check-up, we look for red flags like holes, cankers, discolored leaves, and more, and then develop a plan of action for how to take care of it.
Stand Back and Enjoy
If you are ready to start boosting your tree’s health, call Wise Oak today and get a free consultation with one of our expert arborists. Few things on your property bring so much value, beauty, and joy as mature trees. Don’t let them go untended or risk them getting a disease or becoming damaged by suboptimal yard practices. Hire our team of expert arborists to take care of all your tree care needs! From tree trimming to other types of tree care services, Wise Oaks in Southern Vermont is proud to offer full-service arborist solutions to our local community.