Ten-Minutes-a-Year Tree Care Checklist
1. Keep Grass Away to speed tree growth! Weeds and grass that may have invaded the planting space should be cleared to keep them from competing with your young tree. Grass also put out chemicals which retard tree growth. Studies show young tree will grow 2, even 3 times faster if you pull weeds and grass in at least a 4 foot diameter circle and let only the tree roots grow there. Don’t use a herbicide- hand pull or use a shovel to carefully skim top 1 inch of soil and grass from around the tree. NEVER USE A WEED WACKER...THIS WILL GIRDLE AND KILL YOUR TREE! 2. Mulch to prevent weeds and keep the soil moist! A layer of organic mulch 4-6 inches deep for 2-4 feet around your tree helps keep the soil moist and prevents weed growth. Free Mulch is available on Arden Tree Care weekend every year in January at a local park (bring a garbage bag to fill up), or year round at the SMUD yard at 1708 59th St in Sacramento. 3. Untie the Tree so it can grow strong! A tree needs to move to exercise and get strong. Trees should be untied after the first year and see if can stand on its own...and if successful, the stakes removed after the 2nd summer. If not, retie the tree lower and try again next year, at which point you may consider carefully pruning it up in a very limited way. NOTE: Trees that seem top heavy during the first years usually straighten up, so don't worry as long as the lower 4-5 feet of trunk is straight. NEVER have a nursery stake left on (the one tied next to the trunk when came in the pot) left on. NEVER use just one stake: this will cause the tree to rub and also bend toward that one stake. Don't use string or wire to tie trees: this will cut into the bark, and could even girdle and kill it. If you need additional stakes or ties, call the Tree Foundation and we will drop one off. 4. Prune & Shape it. Pruning usually is only started on 3 year olds: only needed if your 1 year old tree has grown vigorously (usually just zelkova and plane trees),. When pruning, A) do it from the bottom and never remove more than ¼ of the limbs. B) Identify a main trunk or leader by spacing out the side branches and cutting back to competing leader to a side branch. Use sharp clean tools, and make clean cuts just outside the spot the branch joins the trunk. For more info come to the Pruning Class held in your local park on the annual Tree Care day, or locate a Sacramento Tree Foundation Pruning clinic time and location on their website. For On line advice on pruning see this same website, or the interactive clinic at National Arbor Day website. 5. Fertilize! Generally a balanced NPK fertilizer applied once a year helps your tree grow vigorously. Follow the directions on the package. PLEASE don't use "Weed and Feed" mixes because they think your tree is a weed-this will slow your trees growth, or even kill it! Slow release food stakes or pellets are best. 6. Deep Water via slow trickling hose This summer time practice, not staking, will keep your tree from falling over. During the summer for first 3-4 years, let a hose drip overnight near the base of the tree about once a week. It drives the tree roots deep in the ground and prevents diseases, |
How to Grow Healthy Fast Growing Trees
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