Planting shade trees in your yard has many amazing benefits. Underneath a large shade tree is the perfect location for a backyard barbeque or for kids to enjoy some much-needed time outside. It will also keep your home cooler during warmer months of the year.

To get the full benefit of shade trees, you have to plant the correct species of tree and care for them correctly.

NJ Tree Trimming has recommendations for the best trees to plant for shade, and some expert advice on caring for your shade trees so they continue to grow strong and healthy.

Planting Trees for Shade

Any tree can technically provide shade, but there are some types of trees that are built for optimal shade. These types of trees typically have a thick, wider canopy that extends out nearly as far as it does upward.

In the following parapgraphs, we’ve provided examples of shade trees depending on whether they would be best planted in your back or front yard.

Back Yard Shade Trees

Shade trees in the back yard are typically for the homeowner’s benefit. Neighbors and passersby usually won’t see these trees , so they can be purely for shade and enjoyment.

In addition to shade, these trees can provide year-round color as well as some extra privacy from neighbors.

Here are popular options:

• Magnolia
• Sugar maple or silver maple
• Weeping willow
• Weeping cherry
• Red oak

If you have a large enough space, a live oak is another great choice. Live oaks are said to be the fastest growing shade trees, and are able to get very big. A mature live oak can grow up to 80 feet tall and up to 100 feet wide.

Most of these back yard shade tree recommendations get pretty large, so you definitely want to do some research to find out if the tree is going to have enough space to reach maturity.

If there is not enough room, its root system can destroy your fencing or home. You will also need to prune the tree every year to keep it from being overgrown. A tree that is too big for its location will probably have to be removed, which is an unfortunate and sometimes expensive situation.

Front Yard Shade Trees

In the front yard, you are planting trees for your enjoyment as well, but they will be much more beneficial for increasing curb appeal and value to your home than the back yard trees.

Buy shade trees for the front yard that are a little smaller so they don’t overpower your home. These trees should complement your landscaping in color and size, while still providing plenty of shade for front yard play and relaxation.

These are some of our favorites:

Red maple
River birch
Dogwood
White oak
Ginkgo tree

These trees are beautiful throughout the year, and they’ll exude even more color in the fall months.
Another excellent option for your front or side yard is the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae. This hedge-like tree can be planted in a long row with others to provide privacy and shade.

With this advice in mind, we recommend that you plant trees you like. In all honesty, any tree can be a “shade tree.” Assuming the trees you choose are suitable for the climate in New Jersey, they will provide your home and landscaping with some shade.

Benefits of Planting Shade Trees

The benefits of having shade on your property are numerous — and there are a few that you maybe wouldn’t typically think about.

Shade, Obviously – When temperatures soar, you won’t have to hide indoors if you have a nice, shady yard. Put a chair or hammock under your best shade tree and relax outside as long as you like.

Climate Control – Trees can control the temperature in your yard and inside your home. Not only will trees protect you from glaring sun, but they can make it feel 10-15 degrees cooler below their canopies. This means less solar radiation on your roof and siding as well, which should also result in lower energy costs!

Better Air Quality – Trees produce oxygen and expel pollutants, so there is healthier air around your home. Arbor Day Foundation research states that one mature tree absorbs around 48 pounds of CO2 from the air.

Safety for Animals – If you’re into bird watching or think squirrels and chipmunks are adorable, your shade trees can provide them all they will need to build a shelter, find food and raise babies.

Fun – What child doesn’t love a backyard tire swing or tree house? If you have small children, shade trees will offer hours of fun and joyful memories.

How to Care for Shade Trees

Maintaining shade trees is simple as long as you’ve chosen the right species for the weather in New Jersey. Trees are strong and hardy after the first few years, requiring little attention or maintenance.

Consult a certified arborist from NJ Tree Trimming if you have any questions about the care of your shade trees, or even to help you determine the perfect tree for your property.

As soon as you have chosen the best shade tree(s), follow this simple care guide until your shade tree is well established.

Planting Your Shade Tree

The south, west and east of your property always get the most sun, so plant your trees on one of these areas of your yard. This is two-fold: 1) the trees will then provide the ideal amount of shade and 2) they will also receive the maximum amount of sun for healthy growth.

Trimming Your Shade Tree

Prune during the first year or two after planting the tree to help to shape it and help it form a strong structure. To be safe, and for the best results, call NJ Tree Trimming for tree trimming in New Jersey. A certified arborist will arrive at your home and deliver professional care for the tree.

Watering Your Shade Tree

Watering a new tree is very important. This will help them develop a deep root system and will give the tree more stability in the long run.

Fertilizing Your Shade Tree

Homeowners should fertilize a shade tree just like you would any other type of tree in order to aid growth. Fertilizer is not a requirement, but it can assist in helping your tree to grow faster and produce more leaves, which are the primary source of your shade.

We hope this blog post was helpful! Remember, when it is time to trim or prune a new shade tree, NJ Tree Trimming can help! Call and a certified arborist in New Jersey will visit your home, examine the tree and lay out the best maintenance plan for its long-term growth and health.

Tree pruning is best left to professionals. It’s dangerous work, climbing high up trees, using chainsaws and dropping heavy branches to the ground; and it is sometimes dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned properly can sustain a lifetime of damage.

Rather than putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree itself at risk, hire a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced to do the job for you.

This will result in healthier trees and a safer environment surrounding your home for many reasons:

• Healthy trees are sturdier and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
• Maintained trees won’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
• Trimmed trees grow more flowers or fruit
• Pruned trees create shade while still allowing air to flow through their canopies and your property

NJ Tree Trimming strongly suggests pruning trees that are near your house or those that are a focus of your property.

Is Tree Trimming Necessary?

It is not required. But it is important. Trees are resilient and are able to survive on their own across the world, in a variety of different climates and regions, without pruning.

However, there are a lot of benefits of tree trimming, so it’s recommended for any trees that you value. This can include sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that offer an important job for your house, such as shade or wildlife habitat.

Tree Pruning Gone Wrong

Pruning a tree is a complicated task. You are going to need the correct equipment and a lot of knowledge to ensure the job is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!

But that’s alright, because there are many professionals available who know exactly how to properly trim trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists in New Jersey we partner with!

Below are the 5 mistakes homeowners make when attempting DIY tree trimming that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a trained arborist from NJ Tree Trimming will know, and that’s the reason why their services are worth paying for!

Trimming Too Much

When done properly, tree trimming is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be maintained by a professional if you value them and intend to keep them healthy.

A huge mistake homeowners make when trimming trees by themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This occurs because they have let the tree’s growth get out of control and try to fix it all at once. Ideally, you should only cut off 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a time. It is much easier to do this during a time of year that there are no leaves, but a certified arborist is able to properly trim trees any time of year.

Removing Bark from the Tree

When you cut a tree branch and gravity starts to pull it down, it can rip bark from the tree trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, putting the tree in danger of attracting diseases and making it easier for insects to find their way in.

To guarantee this doesn’t happen, an experienced arborist makes special cuts beneath big branches before making their actual removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these small cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and limits the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the branch doesn’t rip.

Trimming in the Wrong Place

A trained arborist knows exactly where to cut each limb to prevent damage. This cut should occur just beyond the branch collar, the specific place where the branch connects to the trunk.

Cutting too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to pests and decay. Cutting too far away from it leaves a stump when the tree recovers. Most DIY tree pruning leads to an improper cut, leaving either aesthetic or structural problems.

Pruning Big Branches

Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter shouldn’t be pruned unless it is necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can lead to imbalance in the tree and expose it to pests and rodents and decay as the tree recovers from losing such a big branch.

Conservative trimming annually guarantees that the company only has to cut off branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of harming the tree or exposing it to decay and pests.

Topping the Tree

Tree topping is an outdated type of pruning, and for good reason! During this service, tree trimming companies would cut the top off of the tree to get the desired height. It was neither attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the vast majority of arborists do not practice tree topping anymore.

During DIY tree trimming, you may think this is a good way to lower the height of your tree with only a single cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s virtually no chance it will ever return to a natural shape.

The Solution? Call NJ Tree Trimming

Your tree may never recover from poor pruning.

Attempting this job yourself might seem like a way to save a little money, but you might end up with way more cost trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s really safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in New Jersey from NJ Tree Trimming.

Limbs will not grow back. The tree will grow more, but not in the same places, which can result in odd shapes that might take years to correct. The tree might look bad for the remainder of its life, all because of just one pruning error.

Incorrect pruning could also cause death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can alter the tree’s photosynthesis process, meaning it won’t get enough water or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue healthy growth.

Cutting too many branches could also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t always permanent, but it does take a great deal of care and patience. Even with the right care, a tree undergoing shock may still die.

Avoid all of these tree pruning mistakes and call NJ Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in New Jersey able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues blossoming and looking beautiful for years to come!

Trees are living things, so it stands to reason that they can get “sick” like people and animals. A disease or other tree issue may take a while to show itself due to the sheer size of the tree, and once symptoms become clear, it could be too late to save the tree.

A professional arborist from NJ Tree Trimming can identify and treat tree problems so that there is a much greater chance of saving the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an arborist keep a tree from dying, but they are also able to help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit.

Have you ever noticed a tree on your property that has always seemed OK but all of the sudden seems like something is wrong? In the next paragraphs, we’ll explain some of the most common tree issues and what these symptoms mean.

If you see any of these things on any of your trees, act fast for the best chance of saving the tree and the ones nearby it.

Tree Diseases & Common Problems

These 7 things are the most typical issues addressed by experienced arborists in New Jersey. The moment you think one of these things could be wrong with your tree, contact someone with the knowledge and tools to help!

Tree Diseases

Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is a fungus that is very common in both trees and plants. The name originates from the brown and yellow spots this disease causes on the leaves.

Leaf rust is dangerous because it inhibits the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be tended to with fungicides and selective tree trimming of the affected leaves. It could be necessary to remove whole branches with leaf rust.

Witches’ Broom – This common disease creates a large clump of twigs, dead leaves and branches that resemble a broom shape. It is caused by pests, unusually rainy weather or fungus. The construction of a clump of leaves and twigs is the tree’s reaction to infection or harm.

Some cases of Witches’ Broom are deadly for the tree, others are just considered a growth malformation. An arborist can tell you for sure.

Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on almost anything in moist conditions, but even after the moist conditions are gone, mildew can remain and thrive. Mildew appears as a powdery texture, usually white, and it usually appears on the leaves of the tree first.

The trick to treating mildew is to apply a fungicide that includes sulfur. This will treat the current mildew and stop future mildew on the tree. You might also need to trim the tree to remove limbs, fruit, flowers and any leaves that were affected by the mildew

Gall – Gall is a type of tree condition that occurs when pests or rodents build small nests on the leaves or branches of a tree to lay their eggs in. Most galls are not harmful to the tree, but they are not attractive.

Gall appears as as bumps on the tree, in a range of sizes. They are often white, brown, gray or some color in between.

It is not necessary to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can limit the growth of recently planted trees. Treat galls by killing the insects. You should also clean out from under the tree when the leaves fall off, since this is where the pests live during winter.

Other Tree Problems

Poor Trimming – There’s an art to tree pruning, as well as many types, and if you aren’t sure what you’re doing, you could damage the tree beyond recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or not pruning at all) can be just as big of a problem. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to trim trees to keep them healthy.

Lack of Water – Young trees can be significantly impacted by drought. If you plant new trees, you will need to supplement the amount of water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water can have its growth stunted. The first symptom you are likely to see is scorched, dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.

Too Much Sun – Do your research before planting trees in a full-sun area. Most types of trees can handle it without issue, but too much sun can happen to any tree if the sun is harsh for an extended period and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting excessive sun needs extra water to fight against wilting, drooping leaves.

Certified Arborist Services in New Jersey

A trained arborist from NJ Tree Trimming will be able to quickly identify what’s happening with your sick tree and come up with a plan to save it if at all possible.

Here is what an arborist is qualified to do:

• Inspect trees from below and from the limbs of the tree if necessary. Getting into the canopy is usually necessary to identify exactly what is creating the symptoms.
• Treat your tree with fertilizers and additives in the dirt or solutions sprayed on the leaves. This person will have expert knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the most effective treatments for it.
• Prune trees to remove dead or diseased branches and to assist healthy growth. Even if heavy trimming is needed, they will know how to remove branches so that the tree survives both the issue and the pruning.
• Remove the tree from your yard if nothing can be done to save it. The worst case scenario is that the tree is too far gone, and cutting it down is the best choice to protect your home and surrounding landscape.

Arborists can also educate you about the trees that you have om your property and how to best care for them so you don’t return to the same situation again.

Some tree issues look very similar to each other, requiring an expert opinion to correctly determine and correct the problem. If your trees are looking dry, disfigured or dying, call a certified arborist from NJ Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late.

When it comes to the question, “What season is best for tree tree pruning?” The answer will likely be vague.

The type of tree will determine when many species can be pruned, along with insect population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees in the yard.

With the assistance of a professional arborist in New Jersey, you will be able to determine what season is ideal for pruning your trees to set them up for success next season and every year after that.

Best Season to Trim Trees

Without any other information, NJ Tree Trimming recommends pruning trees during the winter. This ranges from November to March in New Jersey. Winter is optimal because the trees are mostly dormant, so trimming will lead to the least amount of harm, if any.

There are many benefits to trimming trees in the winter:

Less risk of insect damage and disease – Insects and plant diseases are mostly inactive during the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, everything from insects to fungus can harm a newly pruned tree because the tree is most vulnerable and these issues are more common when there is warmer weather.

Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves prevent your arborist from seeing the overall shape of the tree. When tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see dead or diseased branches and branches that are touching versus those that are just too close to each other.

Trees have time to heal before spring – By performing major tree trimming during the winter, your trees will have many months to rebuild callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By the spring season, you’ll hardly be able to tell where the branches were removed, and the tree will be able to use its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.

Less chance of harming surrounding landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant, so there is a lower risk of damaging them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed during the winter months since these annuals already died out.

Do All Trees Need Pruning?

Yes, all trees will benefit from routine trimming. Tree trimming each winter is good for the trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family and neighbors. Let us explain:

Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger

Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Limbs that can rub one another are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or create an open wound on the tree.

Pruning trees each year is a great way to get expert eyes on the health of your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and insect problems can be spotted and handled right away.

A Cared-For Tree Serves Its Purpose Better

When a tree becomes overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to get to every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s intended to do.

Trimmed trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping issues. So regardless of why you decided to plant a new tree, routine trimming will maximize the results you desire from it.

Trees are More Beautiful After Trimming

If the view of your yard or landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Pruning trees creates an attractive, uniform shape and size. This is very important if you have several similar trees on your property.

Cutting off lower branches and upper branches that grow at improper angles enhances the overall look of the tree while also strengthening tree health.

Less Risk of Falling Branches

Tree trimming – from a professional – helps the remaining tree branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and other inclement weather in New Jersey won’t affect your trees the way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be safer living under and around pruned trees.

Another safety issue for large trees is that they can impede the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree trimming, crown raising and other professional tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and prevent it from blocking various views.

Call NJ Tree Trimming for Tree Trimming

Hiring a certified arborist in New Jersey gives you access to their expert knowledge on tree trimming. We strongly recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.

An arborist doesn’t only look at the current situation. Instead, an arborist will take the time to research your trees and study their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that may put them at risk). After collecting all of the information, an arborist will create a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until the goals for your trees are achieved.

This plan could require years to implement, but rest assured, it will lead to healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for generations.

This kind of annual maintenance will promote healthy tree growth, help your entire property fight off plant diseases and enhance fruit or flower production from the trees. It will also fortify your trees so there is less risk of falling trees or limbs.

Being proactive about tree trimming will save you a lot of money too. Preventative care is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing a sick tree from a disease that has gotten out of control (and one that was easily preventable).

If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your property, trust a certified arborist for tree trimming and maintenance from NJ Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Jersey. Call now!

Tree pruning in New Jersey is an important professional service that can beautify and reinforce your trees so they can fight off pests, diseases and inclement weather – and look good doing it!

Pruning has to be performed if you want healthy trees, but it needs to be done carefully by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from NJ Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune trees safely while they are small, but you also may be doing irreparable harm to the tree.

To properly prune trees, you must know all of the following:

• When to prune your types of trees
• How much of the tree should be trimmed at a time
• Where to cut each branch so you do not harm the tree

Pruning too much from a tree can kill it or lead to structural damage, but conservative pruning done annually benefits trees in many ways. Professional pruning helps to improve the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dying or diseased limbs and assists in fruit or flower production.

Ideally, pruning must be performed each year, but as trees mature, you may be able to wait two years between major pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees trimmed, ensure your arborist is qualified to do the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be a problem if you call NJ Tree Trimming in New Jersey!

Types of Tree Pruning Methods

There are 7 different ways to correctly trim a tree so that it grows healthier and stronger year after year.

Depending on the size, species and health problems of your trees, one method might be more beneficial than another, but each technique has various benefits to consider.

Crown Thinning Your Trees

Crown thinning is typical for larger, overgrown trees in New Jersey. This method eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow through the crown. Air flow is important for disease prevention.

This tree pruning method also eliminates branches that are touching so they no longer rub against one another and snap or create weaker areas that can be an entry point for pests. Limbs that grow at odd angles are almost always removed during crown thinning.

Crown Raising Your Trees

This trimming method only removes branches and limbs at the lower part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk of the tree. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, which leads to less fruit and a weak tree.

There are a variety of reasons you may decide to raise the crown of a tree. Many times, it is done to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can also be done to increase space for landscaping beneath the tree.

It is a common method for overgrown trees that are close to homes and buildings.

Crown Reduction

Crown reduction lowers the total size of the tree’s crown from its outer edges. It shortens limbs vertically and horizontally to maintain the tree at a certain size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can eliminate the need to chop the tree down because it will no longer come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.

Even if the tree isn’t close to structures like those listed above, crown reduction can help the tree look much better because it eliminates irregular growth. This is a great idea for trees that are various ages but you want to look uniform.

Crown Cleaning

Also known as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of tree pruning technique that eliminates dying, snapped or diseased limbs so that the rest of the tree may continue to grow normally. These limbs can only create issues later.

Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it stops limbs from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that lowers the likelihood of branches falling, because healthy branches rarely fall.

Crown Restoration

Crown restoration is an advanced pruning process used on trees that have been severely damaged (either by pests or weather). It needs to only be performed by an experienced arborist who knows where the tree is going to grow in the future and roughly just how long it’s restoration is going to take.

Unlike other tree pruning services, crown restoration happens over an extended period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. Your arborist will have a definitive plan to restore the tree, but also must be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, working with the tree’s new growth pattern.

Vista Pruning

If you are hoping for trees that add to the beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The intent of vista pruning is to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular vantage point.

It consists of many pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown cleaning and crown reduction – any technique that helps the trees look prettier. Remember, though, that a professional is not going to compromise the health of a tree, so the focus of vista pruning is still to maintain strong, healthy trees.

Espalier Pruning

Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat against a wall or a trellis. It is a different style of trimming that is going to attract a lot of attention to your lawn. Espalier pruning has to begin when the tree is very young and then continued very routinely during the tree’s life span.

Some of the benefits of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it easier to produce fruit.

Professional Tree Pruning in New Jersey

Tree trimming can be harmful to a tree, your lawn, and, of course, for you! NJ Tree Trimming highly encourages professional tree trimming over attempting DIY.

Besides the dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t know how to trim it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical errors made by homeowners caring for their own trees.

Trees in New Jersey that get annual care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring a certified arborist from NJ Tree Trimming to trim trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Jersey!

Planting trees on your land has several benefits. Trees provide summer shade, create privacy, filter polluted air and increase property value.

Once full-grown, trees are pretty simple to maintain: another benefit! Trees are strong and tend to continue growing despite minimal care. However, if you want to ensure your trees reach their maximum potential, they need a little more effort.

Lack of care for new trees could result in rotting, disease, under watering or pest issues.

The good news is that tree care isn’t very difficult, but you will want a little information to do it right. Familiarize yourself with the trees you plant to know exactly what they need. Then properly care for them and watch them flourish.

Below, we’ll list the five best practices for planting a new tree and seeing it grow. You likely are aware of the basics, so we’ll dive a little deeper and detail how to complete each step correctly.

Tree Care Tips for New Trees

These tips will not only help keep trees alive, they’ll help them to grow faster, resist strong winds, fight off diseases and pests and produce more leaves, buds or fruit.

Water Your Tree

New trees need a lot more water than older ones. The trees you plant are no exception.

The root of the tree and the soil surrounding it should be kept moist, but don’t let it get soaked, as this might cause the roots to rot.

The popular recommendation is 4-10 gallons of water per week. This includes rain water, and although it’s hard to have an exact reading, a rain gauge can help get you close enough to add the rest. Your new trees will need this much water every week for the first 2-3 growing seasons.

Mulch Around Your Trees

Mulch is more than an attractive lawn care product. It helps protect new trees, especially the roots underground. But laying mulch the wrong way can lead to rotting and decay – so much so, that the tree will not survive.

Place mulch exactly 3 inches away from the tree trunk and spread it out to cover the ground underneath the longest limb. For brand new trees, this isn’t going to be very far, but as the tree grows, your mulch area will also grow substantially.

Keep the mulch no less than 2 to 4 inches thick in all areas around the tree. Be attentive in keeping it spread out consistently and away from the trunk of the tree so it does not stop air flow around the trunk.

Fertilize Around Your Tree

Fertilizer provides several nutrients that your land’s soil may not have naturally. Most new trees will benefit from fertilizing, but you need to be using the right products and doing it at the right time for fertilizer to be most impactful.

The ideal time to fertilize is during early spring. Sometimes early summer provides good conditions (mild temperatures and wet soil), but don’t count on it.

If you aren’t certain about which type of fertilizer to use, consult a tree care specialist for recommendations. Slow-release fertilizers are often a good idea because they feed trees over time rather than all at once.

Follow through with these tasks in the first few growing seasons after planting a tree, and then review your watering, mulching and fertilizing as the tree gets older. As time goes on, there will be additional tree care projects that become more important for your new trees.

Prune Your Tree

Tree trimming is very important – but very tricky – in the early years after you plant a new tree. As the tree grows bigger, you may see several little branches take off, competing to become the trunk of the tree. While you may think this shows that the tree is healthy and that it is growing well, but it can actually lead to a very weak tree in the future.

Early pruning helps to shape the tree into what it will ultimately look like when it gets much larger. As little limbs emerge from the lower trunk, they have to be removed so they don’t suck water and nutrients away from the upper branches.

As long as there are trees growing somewhere on your property, they need to be trimmed routinely. When the trees get too big for you to trim them safely, you can count on NJ Tree Trimming to do it for you.

Monitor Your Tree

New trees are at the highest risk for damage, disease and insect issues. But you’re never completely safe from these things. As your tree gets older, monitor it carefully for signs of disease or bad nutrition, including the following:

• Leaf color changing out of season, especially leaves turning yellow or brown
• Premature leaf falling, regardless of whether leaves look healthy or sick
• Wilting, even with proper watering
• Single limbs dying
• Bark peeling off

These signals likely mean a health problem. The tree is likely going to need professional maintenance if your hope is to keep the tree alive. A certified arborist can identify the issue by just looking at the tree, although they will perform testing whenever necessary.

If you discover the issue quick enough, you will likely be able to save the tree from dying. Being proactive is the best way to protect growing trees.

The steps above are basic but effective. Don’t underestimate the value of the basics! When new trees have proper care, combined with sunshine and barring severe, damaging weather, the chances are probable that the tree will survive and look beautiful too!

Of course, you may already have a lot on your plate and don’t want to be responsible for these additional lawn care projects. In most cases, property owners don’t have the ability to give their new trees the necessary care.

No matter the situation, it’s a good idea to hire a tree service for caring for new trees. A professional arborist in New Jersey can advise you about the course of care for each type of tree you plant on your land. They enjoy sharing their knowledge and skills with homeowners planting new trees, and can make the difference between trees struggling and trees thriving.

Call NJ Tree Trimming now for information on routine tree care in New Jersey – including tree trimming – for newer trees and old trees. An arborists will determine the best plan for your trees! Locate your city in our service area here.