Whether you celebrated Arbor Day by planting a tree this spring or you’ve recently added some young trees to your landscape, it’s essential to give them proper care in the beginning stages of growth. Here’s a look at how to care for a newly-planted tree and give your new tree the best care and environment it needs to grow big and strong.
Watering Your New Tree
When you first plant your tree, it will take some time for it to get used to its environment. While mature trees can survive off of normal rainfall, new trees must be watered regularly. During the first few weeks of growth, watering daily is vital to bring the moisture and oxygen the tree needs to develop a healthy root system. Throughout the first year, trees should be watered at least once a week, and more frequently during droughts or dry periods.
Mulching a Young Tree
The most important tip we can give for how to care for a newly-planted tree, it’s simple, Watering! your tree allows moisture to reach its young roots, but mulching is necessary to retaining that moisture. When too much mulch is laid, however, this can create a damp and cool environment where diseases and fungi typically thrive. Add a 2-4″ layer of organic mulch around a young tree and leave an inch or two of un-mulched space around the tree’s base or trunk to ensure proper air circulation.
Trimming
Within the first year of growth, a young tree won’t typically require pruning, but if you notice branch defects at the time of planting, they should be trimmed away to allow new, healthy branches to grow and thrive. Too much trimming can stunt the growth of a newly planted tree, so it’s better to save more significant trimming and pruning for later years.
Get Tree Care Services from the Experts
Whether you’re concerned about a young tree growing on your property or you have a mature tree that you need professionally removed, Nelson Tree Specialist is here to help. Our certified arborists are dedicated to providing expert tree maintenance and removal services to homeowners throughout Maryland, so call today and get the tree help you need.