Preventative Tree Maintenance

The Mighty oak

Getting a tree to this size takes planning and preventative measurers. Rarely does it just happen.

A tree this size (the picture doesn’t do it justice) doesn’t get this big in an urban setting without a lot of specialized care and planning. Yes, sometimes it happens in the unlikely of places, but it is rare. Most tree care practices end up being reactive. A homeowner calls out an arborist after they notice a problem and then the arborist has to try and ‘fix’ or treat the issue. However, this isn’t always easy, cheap, or successful. Remember, trees are living things and correcting a problem rather than preventing one is a lot harder to do.

For Sioux Falls, the most common tree issues I run into are very preventable.  The following is a list of things tree owners in Sioux Falls and eastern South Dakota can do to help prevent tree health issues:

  • Water when its dry. All ages of trees need plenty of water and water stress is one of the most common and harmful.
  • Protect the Root Zone. Soil compaction and root damage is the number one cause of early tree death and decline in urban areas. Without healthy roots the leaves and branches cannot be healthy.
  • Proper Pruning. Urban trees will need to be pruned at some point, either for clearance from structures or most likely for structure. Having a long term pruning plan in place to plan for the growth of the tree is probably the most over looked, but yet the most beneficial for long term health.
  • Mulch. Having an area under the tree where there is no competition from grass is the one thing that homeowners can do to help prevent a laundry list of common tree health problems. Proper mulching of course is important, but anything (maybe not asphalt) other than turf right up to the trunk is better than nothing.

If you have trees, and want them to their absolute best for the long haul, consider hiring an arborist that can develop long term care plan to prevent the majority of problems before they occur. Usually, by the time you see a problem with your tree, correcting the problem is difficult, expensive, and not always successful.

Contact Sam today to get started on your tree care plan! 605.759.6020, sam@aspenarbo.com, www.aspenarbo.com