The monsoon season is here! Whether or not we get rain is yet to be seen. However, even if we don’t receive the rain, we often experience strong winds. It’s a good idea to inspect your trees and ensure they are in good condition to withstand the storms. We spoke with Andy Young, owner of The Tree Amigos, to bring you the best practices for monsoon tree care.
Tips For Growing Healthy Trees
Ensure the tree is a suitable fit for the location
The first key to having a healthy tree goes back to choosing the right tree for the right place and not putting an oversized tree in a small space, which lessens the tree’s chances of thriving. Constantly pruning a too-large tree to fit a too-small space increases the chances of damaging the tree. If you find yourself in this predicament, it may be time to replace the tree.
Provide adequate water-
Good watering practices include:
- Water slowly and deeply to the full depth of the root ball – 3 ft for mature trees.
- Watch trees in the late afternoon for wilting – Water again only when the soil has dried out. Remember, water is often stored deeper in the soil, even when the surface soil is dry.
- Use a soaker hose to supplement the drip system in extremely hot and dry conditions.
- Once a month, run a longer turf cycle to flush salts and rejuvenate turf.
Correct Pruning-
Trees in our landscape require care to maintain their structural integrity and aesthetics. Pruning must be done with an understanding of tree biology, as improper pruning can cause lasting damage or shorten the tree’s lifespan.
The right reasons to prune include removing dead branches, improving the tree’s shape, and reducing the risk of large limb breakage. Pruning also helps let light through to the landscape below.
Light pruning, or removal of dead or weak limbs, can be done at any time of year. Heavier pruning should be done before spring growth so that the tree has time to recover before the summer sun and heat stress it.
There is more to pruning than lopping off a branch or two. A certified arborist is often the best choice for larger trees that need significant pruning and are too high to reach. Certified Arborist understand the science behind the tree’s structure and apply best practices to shaping and pruning it.
Poor Pruning Practices:
Improper Limb Removal – limbs are often removed by cutting the limb flush with the body of the tree. It is essential to leave the branch collar when removing a limb.
Lion-Tailing – is the practice where a tree is essentially stripped of most or all its interior branches and foliage, leaving only a minimal amount of growth at the end of the branch. Lion-tailing not only affects a tree’s aesthetics but also poses potential hazards, as the tree is unstable.
Topping – or taking the top off a tree, makes for an ugly and stressed tree. Trees need their leaves for food, and removing the top can strip the tree of 50-100% of its leaf-bearing crown. Topping also leads to sunburn, decay, superficial branches, and bug infestation.
Exposing the Trunk and Bark – pruning a tree too severely exposes the trunk to sunburn, which can cause the bark to split and lead to branch loss.
More Monsoon Tips:
- Shut off irrigation before high winds – saturated soil can lead to entire tree failure.
- Know the signs of a hazardous tree – Take a moment to look at your trees. Are there limbs touching the house or other structures, are there limbs that are out of proportion making one side heavier than the other? A good visual inspection can alert you to potential damage that can be caused by trees that need care. Consult a Certified Arborist like The Tree Amigos if needed.
Visually inspecting your trees for oversized or unbalanced limbs allows you to have them pruned before they break and cause damage. - Stake young trees – always remove the bamboo pole that comes with the tree in the pot. Staking a young tree can give it stability in high winds. Use 2 or 3 stakes and set them a couple of feet out from the tree. Tie the tree to the stake, leaving a little slack as the tree needs movement to build strength. Don’t leave the stake in place for more than 2 seasons. Check it often to ensure the stake bands still have some give.
The Tree Amigos website is a great resource for more information:
The Tree Amigos owner, Andy Young is a certified arborist and a member of International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Arizona Community Tree Council and the Western Chapter ISA.
The Tree Amigos is a green company. Andy says, ‘we do our best to maintain sustainable tree care practices. We recycle approximately 95% of our generated green material as mulch and firewood. This practice not only saves precious land-fill space, but saves us money allowing us to pass these savings to you!
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CONTENT PARTNER | THE TREE AMIGOS
The Tree Amigos is an award-winning Arizona tree service specializing in high-quality tree trimming and tree pruning, tree removal, large tree operations, and low-impact tree care. We have a passion for tree care and are dedicated to customer satisfaction! All tree service, including tree trimming, tree removal, and tree consultation, is completed by an ISA Certified Arborist which means your trees will be serviced by a true professional knowledgeable in tree care and industry standards.
PODCAST
Monsoon season brings high winds and at times heavy rainfall. It can do some serious damage to trees from broken limbs to uprooting. The Tree Amigos discuss the best practices for your trees to weather the storm and keep your shade, citrus and fruit trees standing tall.
Original Broadcast Archive Page With Expanded Content
PHOTO CREDIT
- IStock
