Spring is the perfect season for nurturing your property’s plants. Why not indulge in some spring tree care while focusing on the lawn and garden?
Hawkins Tree and Landscaping has a few tips to help you give your trees a fresh, healthy start. Read through our suggestions below, or browse our landscaping and tree services in Magnolia, AR, to get your projects underway.
#1 Clean Up and Conduct an Inspection
Trees shed dead leaves and branches throughout the winter. The problem is that many species native to locations like Magnolia, Arkansas, go dormant. You may think these trees appear indistinguishable from dead or sickly trees – until they produce fresh leaf buds.
Go ahead and pick up and consolidate fallen debris from around the tree. Then, conduct a spring tree inspection and look out for these signs of tree stress:
- Branches that produce no leaf buds
- Rotting, fragile trunk wood
- Festering tree wounds
- Fungal growths
- Pest populations
- Root disturbances
Specimens suffering from these concerns need professional spring tree care as soon as possible.
#2 Feed Each Specimen According To Its Needs
You can feed your trees via two methods: fertilization or mulching. Fertilizing trees in spring involves spreading a premade compound that dissolves into the soil. You can use leftover wood or dead leaves as mulch material, but only after uniformly grinding or chopping it up.
If you have some juvenile or sickly trees growing on your property, you could apply both of these elements to nourish them. Many fertilizers break down faster, making the nutrients more readily available. Mulch retains moisture and slowly decays into the soil, so healthy, mature trees generally only need mulch.
#3 Trim or Prune Your Trees
Now that you’ve satiated the hunger of your specimens, book an appointment for spring trimming and pruning services. Pruning trees in spring has several advantages, such as:
- Eliminates branches that show symptoms of disease or pest infestation.
- Thins dense canopies for improved airflow and sunlight access.
- Identifies and removes dead branches that serve no purpose.
Trimming and pruning problematic limbs is an essential spring tree care practice. It allows the tree to divert resources to productive growth as things warm up.
#4 Apply Pest Prevention Treatments
Adequate nourishment and precise pruning practices eliminate many pest and disease inlets. However, juvenile or weak specimens might need a tree pest prevention application for additional protection.
Always point out your sickly, wounded, or recently planted trees to your arborist. They can further examine these specimens and select products that preserve the tree’s health while combating fungi, opportunistic microbes, invasive bugs, and parasitic plants. Compromised specimens don’t need the added stress of fighting off infections or invasions.
#5 Water the Trees That Need It
Healthy, mature trees don’t generally need watering unless there is a drought. At these times, they benefit from additional hydration, which their mulch will absorb and release. However, spring tree maintenance for needy specimens involves heavier watering sessions to replenish the resources used for healing, root establishment, and growth.
The watering needs depend on the tree’s age, root health, stability, and access to additional resources. For example, a specimen at the bottom of a slope might receive more water than one at the top. Your arborist can guide you on watering methods and ideal schedules for adequate hydration without overwatering.
Start Your Spring Tree Care With Hawkins Tree and Landscaping’s Tree Services in Magnolia, Arkansas
Speaking of hydrating your leafy friends, you might want to start with Hawkins Tree and Landscaping’s watering guide for mature trees. You can also call 870-330-9912 to book pruning, mulching, and seasonal cleanup services in Magnolia, Arkansas. Comprehensive spring tree care begins with us!