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2016 Spring Home & Garden
at least one-third smaller than the
diameter of the trunk. When trim-
ming deciduous trees, homeown-
ers should never prune up from
the bottom more than one-third
of the tree’s total height. Finally,
where possible, homeowners
should aim for side branches that
form angles that are one-third off
vertical to form 10 o’clock or 2
o’clock angles with the trunk.
• Water correctly. Like lawns
and gardens, trees need water to
thrive. Insuffi cient watering can
make it hard for trees to thrive
in summer, but overwatering can
be harmful, too. The ADF sug-
gests that watering each tree for
30 seconds with a steady stream
of water from a garden hose equipped
with a diffuser nozzle should be suf-
fi cient. Newly planted trees may need
more help as they try to establish deep
root systems, so consider laying mulch
around newly planted trees. Mulch
helps the soil retain moisture and form
deeper, stronger root systems.
Trees maintenance should be a priority
as homeowners once again start tend-
ing to their lawns and gardens. More
information about caring for trees is
available at www.arborday.org.
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this is normal and should cease as the
tree starts to bloom. Novice landscap-
ers should confi rm with landscaping
professionals about the best time to
prune trees on their properties to en-
sure they are not inadvertently harm-
ing the trees or making them more
vulnerable to fungus.
• Use appropriate tools. When remov-
ing branches, use sharp tools to mini-
mize damage to the bark. The ADF
notes that young trees are best pruned
with one-hand pruning shears with
curved blades. For trees with high
branches, use a pole pruner or hire
a professional tree service. Novices
should avoid anything too risky when
pruning their trees, leaving the more
diffi cult jobs to the professionals.
• Follow the rules of pruning. When
pruning trees, the ADF advises home-
owners follow the one-third and a
quarter rules of pruning. In adherence
to these rules, no more than a quarter
of a tree’s crown is removed in a sin-
gle season, and main side branches are
CYAN
Lawns and gardens tend to draw the
bulk of homeowners’ attention come
spring and summer. But it’s important
that property owners tend to the trees
that dot their property as well.
The types of trees homeowners have
on their property may infl uence when
it’s time to trim and prune the trees.
Homeowners concerned about tree
maintenance should speak with local
landscaping professionals and tree
services about caring for the trees on
their specifi c properties, but there are a
few tricks to pruning trees that home-
owners should keep in mind when
dusting off their gardening tools.
• Prune at the right time. The Arbor
Day Foundation® notes that pruning
during dormancy (i.e., winter) is the
most common practice. Pruning in
late winter, after the season’s coldest
temperatures have passed, can lead to
impressive and healthy growth in the
spring. The ADF advises that some
trees, including maple and birches,
may bleed sap during pruning. But
YELLOW BLACK
How to take care of your trees