Imagine driving down the road with trees lining the street – casting shade and providing green foliage against the sky. The calming effect – and energy saving benefits – of shade trees pulls straight from the vision of Delta Coves.
As a homeowner, you can help your trees grow and fight back against some of the tougher winds with a little bit of care and planning. Think of it like self-care for your trees.
Water well and water deep
Plant and tree roots grow where the water goes. Start by checking your irrigation timer to ensure your tree is getting the appropriate amount of water for its type and age. Make sure you’re watering enough to create deep roots. To help with deep roots, consider installing watering stakes to facilitate carrying water deeper into the ground.
Building a support system
New trees use stakes to grow upright and provide trunk support against winds. Most stakes are rotted or broken within two years with many needing repaired before then. Check your stake system to make sure the wood and wires are intact. Replace any broken pieces if the tree still needs support. Remove stakes once your tree is established – typically within two years but many times before then.
Looking up
Tree trunks can only support so much. Look up to see if the canopy is overgrown or too heavy for the trunk size. A skinny trunk with lots of branches can cause excess movement on a windy day and break the tree. Prune the crown of the tree – typically by removing smaller branches and leaving the thicker ones to keep growing stronger. Be sure to not trim back more than 25% of the tree’s branches or you may risk damaging the tree.
Create a long-term care plan
Sometimes things blend into the landscape and we overlook them in our busy day-to-day lives. Create a care plan based on your tree’s needs, then set reminders to care for your trees. Start with a reminder to remove old stakes, adjust your drip system semi-annually to ensure appropriate watering occurs, fertilize the tree to help create beautiful, lush foliage, and keep up with regular pruning and maintenance.
When neighbors work together to do their part, we can create natural shade and welcoming spaces within Delta Coves.