After the dormant period they experience during winter, trees “wake up” during spring and start to grow again. This is a great time to give your trees a little extra care to help them thrive during the spring months. A little maintenance can save you time and money down the line – and keep your trees beautiful and healthy.
Today we’ll discuss a few tree maintenance tips for springtime that will help your trees stay healthy and strong throughout the growing season.
1. Clear Room Around the Trunk
It’s common for debris, like branches and leaves, to accumulate around trees during the winter. Clearing this debris away is important for your tree’s health since the debris can trap moisture and create an ideal breeding ground for mold and rot, and can attract pests.
Take Time To…
- Rake leaves and dispose of them properly.
- Remove excess organic matter, like twigs and leaves.
- Prune away dead or weak branches. These could fall during high winds, damaging property or the tree itself.
Taking these steps can keep your trees healthy on top of making your yard look great.
2. Check Trees For Damage
Atlanta, GA’s harsh winter weather can do a lot of damage to trees. An inspection can help identify this damage and protect your trees – and the rest of your property – as spring returns.
Look Out For…
- Weak or damaged branches. These can be a safety hazard and should be removed promptly.
- Cracks in tree bark. Temperature changes can cause stress and cracking inside a tree. These cracks can harm the tree’s overall health and give pests easy access.
- Newly leaning trees. During periods of increased rainfall, the ground can become soft. This can make your trees’ roots unstable and cause them to tilt. This puts the tree at increased risk of falling and should be addressed promptly.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to act fast. These problems will only get worse if left alone.
3. Look for Pest Damage
Much like trees, pests are less active during the winter months and will return in full force with springtime. Some insects may overwinter in your tree’s bark or in the nearby soil and will come out during spring to feed on new growth.
Inspect Your Trees For:
- Holes bored in bark. These could be signs of boring pests like beetles.
- Chewed, curled, or discolored leaves. These could be signs of pests or plant disease.
- Sticky residue or mold. This residue could be honeydew, which is left behind by certain sap-sucking insects like aphids or scale insects.
- “Sawdust” at the base of the tree. This can also be a sign of wood-boring pests.
Tree pests should be handled by professionals to make sure the problem is completely dealt with. If you notice signs of pests, call a professional as soon as you can.
4. Refresh Trees’ Soil
Trees need healthy soil to build strong roots and grow. Spring is the perfect time to refresh your trees’ soil and make sure it’s ready to support your trees. This means providing additional nutrition and reducting compaction in the soil
How to Improve Soil Health
- Aerate compacted soil. This involves punching holes in the soil to allow extra water and nutrients to reach the roots.
- Apply mulch around the trees’ trunks – leaving a few inches free around the trunk. This will help conserve water, trap warmth, and suppress weeds.
- Test your soil’s nutrient levels. This will help you assess whether you need to use fertilizer.
Many of these services will require help from a professional, especially nutrient testing.
5. Prune Your Trees
Pruning is important for your trees’ overall health, as well as for their looks. Spring is the perfect time to remove any weak or dead branches to help your trees grow stronger.
How to Prune Your Trees:
- Remove dead or damaged branches.
- Thin branches to prevent crowding and allow sunlight to reach more leaves.
- Reshape the tree’s crown to encourage balanced growth.
Proper tree trimming will make your trees look better and also reduce the risk of disease and damage.
6. Water Your Trees
During dry periods, your trees will need additional watering to stay healthy. Maintaining a watering schedule is important to help your trees grow strong.
How to Water Your Trees
- Water newly-planted trees regularly to help them establish a strong root system.
- Monitor moisture levels to make sure your trees aren’t over- or under-watered.
- Give mature trees periodic “deep waterings” to protect them from dry spells.
Watering your trees is a vital part of keeping them healthy, which makes them more resistant to environmental stress and plant disease.
7. Have a Professional Tree Assessment
While certain tree care tasks can be performed by amateurs, a professional assessment is always helpful to pinpoint exactly what your trees need. A certified arborist can point out signs of disease, infestation, or structural weaknesses early – before they turn into big problems.
Benefits of a Professional Inspection:
- A professional can prune trees in just the right places to promote healthy growth.
- Early detection for pest infestations, plant disease, and more.
- Professional assessment of overall tree health and building a personalized maintenance plan.
With a little extra help from a professional, you could save time and money while keeping your trees healthy and beautiful year-round.
Keep Your Trees Healthy and Strong This Spring
Giving your trees a boost at the start of the growing season will set them up for success, and the AKA Tree Service team is the best one to call to help them out. Wherever you are in Atlanta, GA, we’re just a phone call away – whether your trees need a quick trim or a thorough assessment. We’re here to help!
Give us a call to get started with a free estimate!