Scheduling Tree Maintenance

Waiting for your mature trees to become damaged or to damage other person's property probably isn't the best time to design a maintenance plan. Scheduling tree maintenance for mature trees is crucial, before there is damage.

So what types of maintenance items should be on your tree schedule? Below are items used by public agencies for their trees, which could easily be put on a private individuals tree maintenance schedule as well.

1. Crown cleaning - Remove dead, dying, diseased, crowded, weakly attached, and low vigor branches and watersprouts from the tree crown.

2. Crown thinning - Remove branches to increase light penetration and air movement into the crown. Greater light and air movement stimulates and maintains interior foliage, which improves branch taper and strength. Thinning reduces the wind-sail effect of the crown and the weight of heavy limbs. Thinning the crown can emphasize the structural beauty of the trunk and branches, as well as improve the growth of plants beneath the tree by increasing the light penetration.

When thinning the crown of mature trees, no more than one-quarter of the foliage should be removed. At least one-half of the remaining foliage should grow from branches that originate in the lower two-thirds of the tree.


3. Crown reduction - This is also known as drop-crotching and it decreases the height and spread of a tree. Thinning cuts will maintain the structural integrity and natural form of a tree, and delay the time when it will need to be pruned again. To make this type of cut, prune the branch back to its point of attachment or to a lateral that is at least one-half the diameter of the cut being made.



4. Crown restoration- This type of pruning improves the structure and appearance of trees that have been topped or severely pruned using heading cuts. Select one to three main branch stubs that will grow to reform a more natural looking crown. Thinning or even heading may be required to match the weight of the new branches with the strength of their attachment. Restoration may require several prunings over a number of years.



5. Crown raising - This type of pruning is important if your trees are in urban areas as it provides clearance for buildings, vehicles, pedestrians, and vistas by removing lower branches. It is important to maintain at least one-half of the tree's foliage on branches that originate in the lower two-thirds of the crown. This ensures a well-formed, tapered structure and uniformly distributed stress. When pruning for view, it's better to open "windows" through the foliage of the tree, rather than severely raising or reducing the crown.

6. Insect and Disease Control. Trees under stress are much more susceptible to attack by harmful insects and diseases and are more likely to exhibit symptoms of the adverse environment. Examine trees on a regular basis-whether or not a significant problem currently exists. These examinations help identify problems sooner, by providing a history of the plants that serves as a point of comparison when a serious problem develops.
Several types of local authorities are available for technical assistance. For free advice call on the county cooperative extension service, agricultural commissioners office and municipal parks or forestry offices. Information is also available for a nominal fee from local retail nurseries, tree services, pest control contractors or arboricultural and horticultural consultants.


7. Fertilization and Aeration - The physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the soil may need to be managed just as elements of the trees' above-ground environment are managed. Trees need adequate amounts of nutrients, water and air in the soil. Without these elements trees will grow with less vigor and will be more susceptible to secondary problems, such as attack from insects and diseases. Properly nourished trees will be more able to withstand the attack of insects and diseases and tolerate the adverse growing environment afforded by most urban situations.


Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Caring For Your Tree Pruning Tools

Pruning and maintaining your trees and plants in your garden is a gardener’s ongoing duty. With such responsibility comes the care of their tools. No matter what type of tool or tools you own, quality and expensive or affordable, they will need care. So how do you go about caring for your gardening tools?

To start, tools need to be sharp so that you can use them effortlessly and so that they do not damage the tree or plant you are pruning. To keep your cutting tools sharp, file the cutting edge of the tool. Practice makes perfect. Even a badly sharpened tool is easier to use that a dull tool. To make short work of your filing projects, install a vise on your workbench. With the tool securely gripped by this second set of "hands" you'll be able to quickly and safely file the business end of your tool. If you regularly file your tools, it will take but a few strokes to keep a fine sharp edge.

To file, use a mill file. Start with the top edge of the tool. File away from you, using long even strokes at the same angle as the original bevel. Lift the tool between strokes. File the opposite side lightly just to remove roughness or burrs for a clean, sharp edge.

Tools made of more expensive metal will hold their edge longer than those that are inexpensive

Next, if your tools have wood parts, these too need care. Wood handles on long and short tools need to be sanded and oiled at regular intervals, usually once a year is enough. Wipe off the handle to clean, and use little if any water. Use fine sand paper to smooth the surface. Remove the dust and rub linseed oil into the handle. Let it soak in. Use as much as it takes until it doesn't absorb any more. Wait about a half hour, then dry off any remaining on the surface. If your tools are made of fiberglass instead, wash them with soap and water, then dry.

How should you store your tools? If your tools are made of metal, which most are, place them in a 5-gallon bucket filled with coarse sand to which oil (motor oil or vegetable oil) has been added. You can store tools in the winter in the sand. Once ready for use, remove them and wipe them off. Each time you use your tools, clean as much dirt as you can, then dig the tool up and down in the sand a few times to clean off remaining dirt and coat the head with oil. The oil coating prevent rusts.

Once a year, clean metal surfaces with a wire brush to remove dirt and light rust. If the rust is a bit worse, you can sometimes remove it by soaking the tool in white vinegar; otherwise, use steel wool. The extent of the rust determines what grade to use. Start with the least coarse grade you can to remove the rust. Once the rust is removed and the entire surface is clean, you can apply a rust-proofing primer. Steel wool and repaint any rough areas.

Of course to prevent rust during usage, always hose off your tools and then dry them. Use a general purpose oil to quickly wipe blades and metal surfaces to condition between uses. You can clean blades of tools like pruners with oil and make sure to oil the working parts so that they clip freely. Your pruners may need to be disassembled first before cleaning and sharpening them. Many gardeners color the blade to be sharpened with a black felt tip marker and sharpen evenly until all traces of the marker have been removed.

Sharpen only beveled edges and always shape blades to maintain the original shape of the bevel.

Tools like pruners need to be cleaned after every use for other reasons as well. Cleaning them each time helps to help prevent tree diseases from spreading. Many gardeners disinfect their pruning tools after each tree you prune. To disinfect your tools, a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water can be applied. Then follow this by cleaning your tools with soapy water and thoroughly drying them afterwards. Always make sure to they are dry before putting them away to detour rust from developing. Finally, if you’re not skilled in the use of tools like chain saws, especially, always put safety first and hire an expert in the tree trimming service.

Keeping your tools in good working order will not only be beneficial to your plants but will make your end of the job easier as well and save on having to replace them.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Tree Planting Rules

So you want to plant trees – before you get started, there is a method that works best so that you can have the healthiest tree possible – we will call them Tree Planting Rules.

To start dig your hole big enough so that when you place your tree in the ground, the crown of the tree will be level with the soil. Be sure the hole you dig isn't too deep or too shallow. Place your tree in the hole as you dig to measure whether it is the right depth, the ground level of the plant in the pot should match up with the ground level after you fill the hole in. You can place the handle of your shovel flat across the hole from one side to the other to measure whether the crown is level with the surrounding soil before filling in the hole.

Once your hole is dug, you can add fertilizer. All plants need fertilizer to thrive, but too much and you will burn the leaves or kill the plant. Follow the package directions on the type of fertilizer you purchase. A good choice is slow release fertilizer, available from garden stores. Over-fertilizing can result in growth that is too fast. This growth might not be very strong or well formed. More is not better.

You can use compost or manure to help the soil out around your newly planted tree. If the soil that you currently have is not rich, has clay-like qualities or if it has the consistency of dust or sand, the addition of manure or compost will give the tree a great start in life. Backfill three quarters of the hole with existing dirt, one quarter with compost or composted manure. The composted organic matter also includes lots of nutrients for your tree. If you think the compost is rich enough, you may be able to do without a commercial fertilizer.

When planting fruit and nut trees, give them extra attention. For example, adding manure or compost is essential if you are planting these types of trees. Backfill two thirds of the hole with existing dirt and one third with compost or composted manure for each fruit or nut tree.

Next, water the newly planted tree. There will be some settling after you water, so after this occurs, backfill the remaining soil, and water again. This will eliminate air pockets. Water one gallon (3.7 liters) for every six inches (15 cm) of tree height.

After you have watered, you can now apply mulch over the planting hole. The rule of thumb is to cover the planting hole with 1-3 inches (2.5 cm - 7.6 cm) of shredded hardwood or leaf mulch. Do not put mulch against the trunk or it will rot. Don't over-mulch the tree, either. A few inches are enough to keep water in and most weeds out. Mulch a circle out to the drip line, about the same width as the tree's leaves. A visible patch of mulch also helps remind people not to step or mow or run a string trimmer too close to the tree.

Now you need to water your tree again. After the planting is finished come back in about an hour and water one more time.
Stake the tree if necessary, for about the first year. Make sure that whatever stakes you use are tied loosely to the trunk and do not dig into the bark or tighten around the tree. Remove the stakes once the roots have a chance to become established, after about the first year. Staking protects the tree against blowing over in the wind, and it can also help to remind people moving around the tree not to run into it.

With your newly planted tree don’t forget to keep watering it for the first few years as it gets established. Depending on the climate and your area, it will need weekly watering until the roots are established. To form deep roots, water deeply. A long, slow trickle of water will water more deeply than a quick sprinkling. Remember, deep roots help your tree to be resist droughts and winds. Let the ground dry out, at least somewhat, between watering.

Last, is enjoy the tree as it grows over the years with you and your family. Appreciate its shade and beauty and thank yourself for adding another tree to the world. And there you have it, the rules for planting your tree.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

When to Trim Your Trees: Tree Trimming Austin, TX

Having your trees trimmed can offer many advantages and it should be considered for all trees on your property. Tree trimming is essential when you are growing a new tree. The shape of the tree can be controlled by proper trimming early in life. When you have your trees trimmed, you reduce the risk of limb breakage, disease, damage to your property, and irregular tree shape.
Tree trimming is not only aesthetic. Tree trimming can keep your trees healthy and promote the growth of foliage, flowers and fruit. Letting your fruit tree limbs get long and out of control can be a real problem. Tree limbs can easily get weighed down by the weight of the ripening fruit. This can cause your tree to lose many limbs in one growing season. Not only does this make your tree look unsightly in your yard, but it opens up areas on the tree that make it susceptible to disease.
A professional tree trimmer will know what time of year is best for your particular tree to be trimmed. Some trees should not be trimmed in the winter. Have your trees trimmed in the summer if you are trying to promote new growth. A skilled tree trimmer can tell exactly where to cut to promote growth in areas where it is needed. This can help improve the shape of your tree. This can balance the number and density of limbs. You can also decide if you would rather have a wide or slender tree shape. Having a balanced shape can also add strength to the tree. A professional arborist or tree trimmer will know how to trim the limbs so that they grow in the direction that you desire.
Tree trimmers will look for certain types of limbs to trim off. For example, limbs close to the ground will usually be trimmed off. Smaller trees trying to grow at the base of the trunk will also most likely need to be removed. Dead and broken limbs will need to be properly cut so that they can heal correctly. There are many factors that should be considered, and this is why most people wisely choose a professional tree trimmer to do the job.
For the most reliable results, you should do a little research before hiring your tree trimmer. Many people may buy some equipment and call themselves a professional. If you want to be sure of your results and get a real professional opinion, call a certified arborist. This can be especially important if you have a tree that needs to be saved. Hiring a certified arborist for pest management and disease control could literally mean the difference in saving or losing the tree. Make sure that you get real, honest advice when looking for Austin tree service. Call a certified arborist for all of your tree care needs.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.