Tree Care & Maintenance

Watering

Watering is the most important activity to ensure the health of your young tree. Trees should be watered regularly during the first three summers after planting. Watering quantities should be increased as the weather becomes drier in the early summer. Water your trees deeply twice a week with five to ten gallons.

The following is a certain way to be sure your tree is getting the proper amount of water. Time how long it takes a slow-running hose to fill a five gallon bucket. Multiply that time by three. That's how long you should water your tree. It is preferable to water trees slowly over long periods of time to ensure they are watered deeply and that the water sinks into the soil and doesn't run off the surface. This technique will also encourage roots to grow downward rather than outward, preventing them from disrupting sidewalks.

Weeds

There should be 18 inches between the tree trunk and any weeds or grass, since weeds and grass absorb water that should be going to the tree's roots. Also, if weeds and grass are kept away from the trunk, the chance that the trunk will be scarred by lawn mowers or weed eaters is minimized. These tools can severely damage trees if they are not used carefully. If a tree's bark is damaged all the way around the trunk, its water and nutrient supply system is cut and the tree will die.

Mulch

There should be about an 18-inch radius of mulch or bark chips around the tree, except for a three-inch radius at the base of the trunk which should be free of mulch to deter fungus and disease from infecting the tree's bark. Mulch reduces water evaporation from the soil, and helps curtail the growth of weeds.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer should not be applied during the first year after planting. Consult a nursery or other resources about fertilizer application after the tree has been established for a year. Fertilizer needs vary with tree species and with soil structure.

Pruning

The more foliage a tree has, the more it can grow. During the first year, only broken or dead branches should be pruned from the tree. In the second year, if the tree is growing well, the tree should be pruned only where branches rub together. Suckers, or young shoots growing from the base of the tree, should be removed at all times.

Pruning a Dead Branch A dead branch stub that has a collar of live wood should be cut just at the outer edge of the collar (swollen area where one branch meets another).	Pruning a Live Branch Remove a large limb by making three cuts: Undercut 12" to 24" from the branch collar. (A) Make a top cut all the way through the branch, within 1" of the undercut. The final cut should be just beyond the branch collar. (A)

Look at the illustrations for the proper method of pruning branches. Branches should always be cut back to a joint, never cut in the middle. Cuts should be made as smoothly as possible, as a jagged surface provides an easy entry for infection. If pruning is required as the tree ages, reference should be made to experts or books to ensure that pruning is appropriate for your tree species.

Never top a tree!

Topping is a very damaging practice that is detrimental to a tree's health and natural beauty. Only under very rare circumstances will a respectable arborist suggest topping a tree. If an arborist does suggest topping, always get a second opinion. There are many reasons not to top trees, among them are the following:

• Topping can send a tree into shock by removing too much food-producing foliage at once.
• Removing too much foliage at once exposes bark tissue to the scalding effects of the sun.
• Topping creates an unhealthy imbalance between leaves and roots.
• Removing too many branches at once increases the chances for infection as larger branches have difficulty healing.
• New branch growth is always weak on topped trees, and can be a safety hazard.
• Topped trees are ugly!

Insects and Disease

Trees should be closely monitored for any insect or disease problems. Call the Multnomah County extension service at 503-725-2033 for information on correcting the problem. You can also clip a small leaf sample and bring it to a local nursery for advice.

Stakes and Tree Ties

Stakes and ties should be removed one year after planting. Loosen ties if they become tight around the trunk of your tree or begin to chafe away the bark. If not monitored and removed at the proper time, ties can girdle the tree, killing it!