When fertilizing is necessary, slow release, balanced, granular fertilizer or soil-applied liquids should be distributed over the tree's entire root zone. If growth is adequate and steady, foliage appears healthy, and there has been no major disturbance around the tree, no fertilization is needed. Trees should be fertilized only when necessary. Therefore it is usually beneficial to water the entire yard to water a tree. Tree roots extend away from the tree at least as far as the tree is tall and in most cases much farther. Most tree roots are not very deep (within the upper 6" to 12" of soil), and deep roots will receive water if enough is applied to the soil surface. Do not inject water "deep" into the soil. Water with a hose or coarse-droplet sprinkler at a rate low enough to keep water from running off. Instead, larger amounts of water should be applied once or twice a week. Therefore, a new tree with a grass lawn competing with it may need 2 inches or more of water a week to thrive.ĭaily watering causes a lack of soil oxygen, smothering roots, and can reduce the number of deep roots. These amounts are in addition to the water that a surrounding grass lawn would need. Established trees should receive 1 inch of water every 10 to 14 days. Newly planted trees should be watered once per week (1 inch) in the absence of rainfall. Moisture is critical to trees, but too much moisture can cause serious damage. Mulch can be placed directly on grass when mulching established trees. Mulch should be spread a foot or more from the base of the tree in all directions. It does not, however, add organic matter to the soil or reduce compaction like a natural mulch. Woven weed barrier fabric can be effective at reducing weed competition and does allow moisture and oxygen to enter the soil. Rocks cause soil compaction, and plastic sheeting suffocates root systems. Use wood chips, bark or some other natural material as mulch.
Mulch should be renewed as needed to keep a good depth. Monitor mulched areas during the winter to detect any rodent activity. Organic mulch should be applied around the tree to a depth of two to four inches. Properly applied mulch will increase growth rates, prevent basal damage, and conserve soil moisture. Mulching is an important maintenance practice for trees. Trees pruned heavily in the nursery or severely wounded in handling may have serious problems later. Is the space large enough to accommodate the mature tree's crown and roots? At the nursery select trees with well developed crowns and no wounds on the trunk or branches. Look at the site carefully and completely. The first and possibly most important steps in injury prevention are proper selection, placement, and planting of the new tree. Proper planting and maintenance are the keys to keeping trees healthy and safe. The best way to care for tree injuries is to prevent them from happening. This article is intended as a guide to help homeowners reach that objective. But once a tree has been established it takes proper care and maintenance to keep it healthy and safe. This is especially true in Utah where trees are sometimes difficult to grow. It has been said that a tree is not planted until it has been in the ground five years.
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