Even a Tree Needs Love I: Biological Love First of a two-part series of articles on tree care . . . Some of the most well-cared-for trees reside in Asian gardens. They take great pride in the care of their plants, and their trees are no exception. Some of their trees are even wrapped with bark and rope for insulation against the cold. To most of us here in the U.S. of A. this might seem a little extreme, but some tender, loving care for our established trees can go far to keep them healthy and strong for many years to come. When we set out to maintain our yard, we usually know how to take care of the flowers, shrubs, and grass. But what in the world are we supposed to do with the trees? Some trees in the landscape are quite tall, and seem to be able to fend for themselves mostly, with the few dead branches here and there. What exactly can we do to take care of these magnificent plants? There is actually quite a lot of care that we can give to our trees. Tree maintenance can be broken into two broad groups: biological care and physical care. Biological care can consist of practices like watering, mulching, and fertilizing, whereas physical care is made up of trimming, pruning, and care for trees in construction zones. In this article, I will address biological care first, and physical tree care will be in Part Two. It's nice to know that there is so much that we can do for our mature trees in the landscape. A very basic practice that applies to every growing plant in the landscape is watering. Not only do flowers, grass, and shrubs benefit from this, but mature trees do as well Granted, established trees don't need to be on as meticulous watering schedule as do, say, annual plants, but a good, deep watering every now and then, especially during a drought, can be very beneficial to the plant. Watering deeply and infrequently will also encourage the roots to grow down into the soil and not up into the mulch. You also want to water in the early morning or evening to prevent the water being evaporated into the atmosphere before the plant has time to take it up. Taking care to remember to water your trees every once in a while along with the rest of your garden is a simple practice that can bring big benefits. Another simple maintenance practice for trees is mulching around the base. A ring of mulch around a tree base is not only aesthetically pleasing, it provides benefits such as weed suppression, retaining of moisture, protection against the root system overheating, and it functions as a barrier between the trunk and a lawnmower or weed-eater, which can inflict damage upon the bark. The best way to apply mulch around the tree base is in a bowl-like shape, mounding up to a height of 4-6", then back down toward the trunk until it is at the soil level at the trunk. This prevents smothering the roots, and the bowl shape directs water and nutrients toward the tree. Providing this blanket of mulch can be very rewarding to both the tree and your landscape. The last biological maintenance practice for established trees is fertilization. Even the largest of trees can benefit from the extra boost that fertilization provides. The best time of year to fertilize trees is in the early spring or late fall; this is when most root growth occurs as well. A good general recommendation for fertilizer is half a pound of 12-4-8 fertilizer per 1" of caliper or D.B.H. To properly spread the fertilizer out for the tree to take into it's system, you should make holes in the ground around the root zone of the tree that are three feet apart, 2 inches wide, and 20 inches deep. Then divide the fertilizer and insert it into the holes and water thoroughly. Applying fertilizer correctly for mature trees in this manner will help ensure the tree benefits from the nutrients. Watering, mulching, and fertilizing are three ways to take care of your trees biologically. Though your maintenance schedule for established trees doesn't need to be as strict or rigorous as your schedule for the rest of your yard, it is still extremely beneficial to provide care for these lynchpins of your landscape. With the proper care, your trees can outlast every other part of your property. They might even still be around after your house is long gone! And who knows, maybe once you begin to see the benefits that caring for your trees can offer, you just might consider taking a page out of the Asian world's book and trying your hand at tree insulation. However, you might just want to stick with the natural bark look; I hear the Pink Panther insulation look for the landscape can be a bit too modern. --------------------------------------------------------- Carrie Paulk is a professional landscape designer with Turf Tamer, Inc. She has written many informative landscaping articles for Turf Tamer's Tip of the Week program. Want to learn more landscaping tips and tricks? 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