Caring For Trees
1 - Location Matters
A well-chosen tree in the right location can become a lasting part of your property. Before you think about what type of tree you want to plant, consider the following: - What’s the soil composition of my site? - How quickly does water drain through the soil? - How much wind and sun does this location receive? - How much space am I prepared to let the tree fill? - What are the outcomes I’d like to achieve by planting a tree? Different trees thrive in different environments—some prefer sandy soils, while others are fine in clay or saturated soils. Considering your goals alongside the details of your specific site, and the characteristics of different species in their mature forms will help you find a tree that will grow well and thrive in your yard. Opting for native species is always a smart choice, as they are well-adapted to our region and support other native flora, fauna, and microorganisms, creating a balanced ecosystem. Calscape’s Garden Planner is an excellent resource if you like the idea of planting natives but aren’t sure where to begin. Check out the resources linked at the end of this page.
2 - Pruning Young Trees
During the first 3 years of a tree's life, light annual pruning is encouraged to establish strong structure and remove any damaged or diseased branches. Regular deep watering during this time is also a good idea. After that, trees can mostly be left to thrive on their own, with more occasional pruning to shape and maintain the tree as desired. Investing in training a young tree early on is far more efficient and cost-effective than the time and expense needed for corrective pruning on a mature tree with structural issues. It’s also much easier for a tree to recover from smaller wounds than it is from larger ones, so the earlier pruning can be done the better!
3 - Making Pruning Cuts
Both good and bad pruning cuts can remove weak, diseased, and overcrowded branches, but only a well-placed cut will ensure that a tree is able to stay strong and healthy. If you decide to prune branches on your trees, the most important thing to watch for is the branch collar. The branch collar contains a special zone of cells called the branch defense zone which trigger the growth of wound wood when the tree is pruned. This area also contains chemical and structural barriers that work to contain and prevent decay from spreading into the trunk. By cutting just outside the branch collar, you allow the tree to keep its defense systems in tact and “heal” (a tree doesn’t really heal, but instead recovers stability through a process called compartmentalization). Leaving too much wood behind, something those who work with trees call “stubs,” will also hinder proper healing.
4 - Topping Trees
With the right care, large trees can be beautiful and safe additions to urban spaces. However, topping, a method of reducing a tree’s size by cutting back the ends of upward-growing branches, can actually make trees more hazardous. Since topping cuts are made without regard for the branch collar, the tree cannot compartmentalize, leaving it vulnerable to rot and decay that can spread into the trunk. In response to the stress of being topped, trees often produce rapid regrowth in the form of weakly attached water sprouts (epicormic growth). This dense regrowth increases the tree’s susceptibility to wind and other forces, raising the risk of limb failure. Instead of topping, proper pruning techniques like a crown reduction can reduce the size of a tree while preserving its natural form and strength.
Additional Resources
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For Calscape's garden planner, click here.
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More on Topping Trees, click here.
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More on how trees heal through compartmentalization, click here.