Fertilization can often benefit trees, but not always. Fertilizers should only be applied following a soil test to determine which, if any, nutrients are lacking. The soil test, along with ANSI A300 (Part 2), will provide you with the …
How do trees "heal" after they have been wounded?
Trees and woody plants don’t heal. A healed wound has had the tissue repaired or replaced, which would be evidenced by a scab or scar on skin. Trees are not capable of replacing or repairing damaged tissue, but instead, they …
What costs are associated with maintaining trees over their lifetime?
Trees should be properly maintained by carrying out basic maintenance activities, such as mulching, watering, soil testing, fertilizing, and protection.
Mulching is typically needed on a periodic basis (every 1-3 years), but watering, soil testing, fertilizing, and protection should only …
Should I remove rootball packing materials when I plant a tree?
Adherence to National Planting Standards (ANSI A300 Part 6) recommends that all rootball-supporting material (burlap and wire basket) should be cut off from the top third of the rootball.
Generally, the less hindrance for roots growing out from the rootball …
How do I prevent my trees from causing problems for my neighbors?
When you plant a tree in your yard, think about all of the ways it will affect your neighbors. Will it shade their garden? Will it push on fences? Will it shade their solar collectors? Of course to assess this, …
What should I do after a storm has damaged my tree(s)?
Storm-damaged trees should be evaluated by a professional arborist. A Certified or Consulting Arborist may recommend removal or various improvement measures such as pruning, cabling, lightning protection, root invigoration, fertilization, etc.
The Arbor Day Foundation has a nice page …
What is the difference between a Certified Arborist and a Consulting Arborist?
The difference between a Certified Arborist and a Consulting Arborist resides with the organization that issues the title.
Certified Arborists are accredited through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Each individual who passes the specific test for certification will …
What is the difference between arboriculture and urban forestry?
Arboriculture involves the care of individual trees, while urban forestry deals with forests as systems (groups of trees) in a developed setting.
The science of arboriculture focuses on proper tree planting, pruning, fertilizing, water and other maintenance issues. It also …
Assistance for Urban Tree Care
Public sources of tree care and energy conservation assistance:
Federal, state, and local sources of assistance
Several federal agencies are charged with assisting the public with improving tree care and energy conservation. The United States Forest Service (USFS), provides technical …
What is a safe distance to keep between a tree and my house?
The distance between your home and a tree planting should be determined by the mature width of the tree’s canopy. Trees should be planted at least a distance of 1/2 of their mature canopy width from a home. For example, …