Many homeowners used some of their forced “home time” during the pandemic to beautify their yards. It was a great idea! And it’s not too late to do this yourself, if you’d still like to take on this type of project. Lots of people who take a fresh look at their yard with an eye towards a new layout contemplate adding a tree or two to their yard. But the idea of adding a new tree to your garden can be a bit daunting, and rightly so. Do you add a sapling or a more mature tree? Where should it go? How do you care for it so that it has the best possible chance to survive beyond its first year? What special care does a new tree require in order to thrive?
How to Care for New Trees
If you do decide to plant new trees, what can you do to give them a strong start and keep them healthy?
- Put them in the right place
Choosing the right location for a tree is essential. Make sure it is a spot that has enough space for the tree to expand its canopy – and make sure that you’re considering the tree’s likely full size, not just its current size. Check that the specific spot gets enough access to the amount of sunlight preferred by your type of tree – some like direct sunlight, while some prefer shade. You will also need to avoid power lines or other overhead obstructions, and again, be mindful of the size your tree will be in a few years. And lastly, do not plant the tree in either too shallow of a spot or too deep.
- Give them water
Older trees need one inch of water each week. For new trees, though, they need up to ten gallons of hydration every week. This increased need for irrigation usually needs to continue through the first two seasons that they grow until their roots have expanded deeply and widely enough to pull water from a significantly large area under the tree. If your new tree has not received that much water from rainfall, be sure to supplement its hydration through supplemental irrigation. You’ll want to water your new tree slowly so that the water can seep down before it runs off.
- Fertilize them
Not all trees require fertilization – in fact, most don’t. But new trees are an exception – they usually benefit from fertilization through their first year after being transplanted to a new location. A slow-release fertilizer will help get essential minerals into the ground around the tree. You can check the soil around the tree to see if any nutrients are lacking. If you aren’t sure which nutrients your new tree needs, a call to your local tree service company can help to guide you to this information and to the means to testing your soil.
- Insulate their roots
Throughout their first year, and especially in the first six months, newly planted trees are more vulnerable to all kinds of threats. They need time to expand their root structure into the ground in order to protect themselves against low levels of water and nutrients and low temperatures as well. You can use mulch to protect their roots as they grow and expand. Mulch can help to keep roots close to the surface from freezing and also helps keep the soil from getting too dry. Proper mulching can even save the vulnerable young tree’s trunk from getting torn up by your lawnmower (but also be especially careful with your lawnmower and your weed whacker around your new trees).
- Schedule checkups
Whether your trees are newly planted or have been in your yard for a while, it’s a good idea to have a tree service near you come by at least once a year to check on your trees. A trained arborist can make sure there are no diseases or pests threatening your young trees, that they’re getting enough nutrition and hydration, and can recommend a care plan for the future, including regular trimming and maintenance. These professionals know exactly what to look for in terms of the leaves’ coloration, holes, sores, and other telltale signs of problems. Let an expert give your trees a regular checkup.
If you’re here in the Cincinnati area, we’d love to be your tree service company. Call us here at Tree Images to find out more about what we can offer you and your trees, and how we can help your trees, old and new, thrive from year to year.
