Spring Tree Care
A thank you to Homer Tree Care Inc. for providing me this information. Believe it or not, this is the condensed version.
Some damage is obvious-and some problems can fester and go unnoticed without the trained eye of a professional. It's no secret a bare branch is suffering when the rest of the tree is bearing leaves. But diseases and insects can creep in unexpectedly. Spring is a favorite time to inspect the landscape because you can see the turn of trees and shrubs as they come out of dormancy.
Branch Out
Look for consistent leafing and flowering activity on the branches of your trees during spring. Does one area look sparse? Observe how leaf tissue is emerging.
Wet Watch
Look out for yellowing leaves on shrubs that could be a sign of excess water from winter storms. This yellow coloring can indicate poor soil drainage and too much moisture. The shrub is telling you it is not doing as well compared to others that are healthy and vibrant green.
Clear The Way
Dead wood is dangerous, and it's often the byproduct of winter weather. Be sure to clean up dead branches, which are a safety risk.
Look Down
Those roots are a key indicator of a tree's health. Look for these above-ground clues that something's not going so well "down under" with your trees: thin crowns; dwarfed, off-color leaves; stunted growth; discolored, loose or resin-soaked wood at the root collar; and fungi growing near the base of the tree.
Pruning
When to Prune
This depends to a large extent on why you prune. Light pruning and the removal of dead wood can be done anytime. Otherwise, here are some guidelines, but recognizing that individual species may differ is important to remember.
Winter Pruning
Pruning during dormancy is the most common practice. It results in a vigorous burst of new growth in the spring and should be used if that is the desired effect. It is usually best to wait until the coldest part of winter has passed. Some species, such as maple, walnuts and birches, may "bleed"-when the sap begins to flow. This is not harmful and will cease when the tree leafs out.
Summer Pruning
To direct the growth by slowing the branches you don't want; or to slow "dwarf" the development of a tree or branch, pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. The reason for the slowing effect is that you reduce the total leaf surface, thereby reducing the amount of food manufactured and sent to the roots. Another reason to prune in the summer is for corrective purposes. Defective limbs can be seen more easily, or limbs that hang down too far under the weight of the leaves.
Pruning Flowering Trees to Enhance Flowering
If your purpose for pruning is to enhance flowering:
When Not To Prune: Fall
Because decay fungi spread their spores profusely in the fall and healing of wounds seems to be slower on fall on cuts, this is a good time to leave your pruning tools in storage.
Some damage is obvious-and some problems can fester and go unnoticed without the trained eye of a professional. It's no secret a bare branch is suffering when the rest of the tree is bearing leaves. But diseases and insects can creep in unexpectedly. Spring is a favorite time to inspect the landscape because you can see the turn of trees and shrubs as they come out of dormancy.
Branch Out
Look for consistent leafing and flowering activity on the branches of your trees during spring. Does one area look sparse? Observe how leaf tissue is emerging.
Wet Watch
Look out for yellowing leaves on shrubs that could be a sign of excess water from winter storms. This yellow coloring can indicate poor soil drainage and too much moisture. The shrub is telling you it is not doing as well compared to others that are healthy and vibrant green.
Clear The Way
Dead wood is dangerous, and it's often the byproduct of winter weather. Be sure to clean up dead branches, which are a safety risk.
Look Down
Those roots are a key indicator of a tree's health. Look for these above-ground clues that something's not going so well "down under" with your trees: thin crowns; dwarfed, off-color leaves; stunted growth; discolored, loose or resin-soaked wood at the root collar; and fungi growing near the base of the tree.
Pruning
When to Prune
This depends to a large extent on why you prune. Light pruning and the removal of dead wood can be done anytime. Otherwise, here are some guidelines, but recognizing that individual species may differ is important to remember.
Winter Pruning
Pruning during dormancy is the most common practice. It results in a vigorous burst of new growth in the spring and should be used if that is the desired effect. It is usually best to wait until the coldest part of winter has passed. Some species, such as maple, walnuts and birches, may "bleed"-when the sap begins to flow. This is not harmful and will cease when the tree leafs out.
Summer Pruning
To direct the growth by slowing the branches you don't want; or to slow "dwarf" the development of a tree or branch, pruning should be done soon after seasonal growth is complete. The reason for the slowing effect is that you reduce the total leaf surface, thereby reducing the amount of food manufactured and sent to the roots. Another reason to prune in the summer is for corrective purposes. Defective limbs can be seen more easily, or limbs that hang down too far under the weight of the leaves.
Pruning Flowering Trees to Enhance Flowering
If your purpose for pruning is to enhance flowering:
- For trees that bloom in spring, prune when their flowers fade.
- Trees and shrubs that flower in mid- to late summer should be pruned in winter or early spring.
When Not To Prune: Fall
Because decay fungi spread their spores profusely in the fall and healing of wounds seems to be slower on fall on cuts, this is a good time to leave your pruning tools in storage.
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Gary Lee, CFA | Baird & Warner
25 West Chicago Avenue | Hinsdale, IL 60521 Cell: 630.449.2110 Email: [email protected] |
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