There is no two ways about it. Poorly-groomed trees can damage your home and landscape during severe summer storms. Strong winds can uproot trees, break branches and even crack the tree trunk. Here are 10 tips to keep your trees upright.
- Do not plant trees deeply.
- Remove excess soil from the top of the root ball to expose the top of the main root system. This will be the height of the hole depth.
- Examine the root system before planting and remove any root defects such as circling roots.
- Stake only if necessary. If staking is needed follow proper staking guidelines and remove the stakes after a year.
- Water deep and wide to encourage a deep and wide root system.
- Develop a pruning program for training a young tree to improve structure and increase longevity.
- A pruning plan should be created to remove as little as possible. Never remove than 25% in a given year.
- Do not top trees. This creates weak branch attachments and can cause branch failure and breakage.
- Remove dead or diseased branches. This can be done any time of year and especially before a storm.
- Resist the urge to clean up damage especially if there are multiple hazards such as tree contact with utility lines. Call a professional. Here is a PDF from International Society of Arboriculture on How to Hire a Tree Arborist.
Want to learn more? Join the Planting and Maintenance or Desert Plant Palette Certificate courses to level up your approach to desert gardening. Onsite registration is now available for fall classes.
