Trees are great additions to any landscape and even greater investment for your home! Investing in proper tree care is also critical to growing strong, healthy trees for decades and decades in California. Learn more below about how to take care of your trees the right way and when its best to call in a professional tree care company for the best care.
While they essentially do the same thing, trimming and pruning are NOT the same things. Pruning a tree is focused more on the tree structure while trimming is performed more for cleaning up the canopy and keeping a specific design. Regular tree pruning and trimming is helpful with overall tree care to keep your trees healthy and encourage stronger top growth.
Trimming and pruning are especially helpful with flowering and fruit trees for more blooms and fruit production. Regularly pruning your trees also protects your home from dead or weak branches. A trimmed tree can even instantly add more curb appeal to your home.
Depending on the types of trees you have in your yard when you should trim them could differ. Fruit and citrus trees can be cut during the winter once the threat of frost has passed. Most trees, such as desert trees and oaks, are also best trimmed in the winter while they are dormant and preparing for spring growth. Evergreen trees can be trimmed in early spring or early fall. Palm trees are best pruned in mid-summer to remove dead fronds from the canopy.
You can tell your tree needs to be fertilized by watching for a few signs. One sign that can show nutrition deficiency is the color of the leaves. Watch out for yellowing foliage. Other signs might not be quickly noticeable but are good indicators of a deficient tree, such as super slow growth and/or smaller foliage.
If you suspect your trees might not be getting enough nutrients, its time for a soil test! This test will let you know if the tree is missing any primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). If the test shows a deficiency, fertilizers should be added to start amending the soil.
Watering is essential for growing healthy trees in your yard and keeping them looking great every year. It’s good to pay attention to how your trees grow and transition through the seasons so you can spot issues at the first sign of trouble, especially if it’s water-related!
The best way to tell if your tree is overwatered is to check and see if the ground around the tree is wet. There could be certain areas that are collecting still water or bad drainage in the soil.
Overwatered trees can lead to root damage and weakness. Another sign of overwatering is the strength of the leaves. Overwatering can cause leaves to be fragile and break easily.
If you think your tree is being overwatered, stop watering for a week and then see if the soil is still wet. If it is, wait a few more days and check again. Once the ground has dried, water again. The soil may also need to be reconditioned for better water drainage.
Damaged leaves are a sign of underwatering in trees such as brown/yellowing leaves, leaves that have started wilting or curling, and thinning canopies. An underwatered tree may also change colors or drop their leaves out of season.
If you see these signs, change up the watering routine. Start watering for longer durations to make sure the water is getting deep enough into the soil to the reach the roots!
At Moon Valley Nurseries, we guarantee every tree we plant. Each tree that we install comes with a standard 90-day warranty that covers transplant shock and one free replacement if needed. We also have an extended 12-month warranty that offers even more protection of your investment. Our nursery expert explains the differences here.
Visit Moon Valley Nurseries today to get some tips from our nursery experts about the best ways to take care of your trees. Get started with the best landscape products made specifically for the soil in our regions.