Treat trees with love, attention

Topping, too much mulch can hurt valuable asset
By AMY STUMPFL
For Brentwood Home Page
All things being equal, a home with mature trees will almost always win out over one without them when it comes to selling. Trees provide beauty, shade and, if planted in the right places, can help keep a power bill within reason.

With the spring storm season well under way, many local homeowners are worried about potential damage to trees and shrubs. And while most planting and maintenance takes place during the dormant season, it’s never too early to plan for a healthy and attractive landscape year round.

Stop topping!

One of the most common – and most harmful – techniques seen in Middle Tennessee is tree topping, says Skip Heibert, principal landscape architect with Heibert & Associates, LLC.

“Topping is absolutely one of the worst things you can do to a tree,” says Heibert, who also serves on the Brentwood Tree Committee, as well as the one in Franklin. “Homeowners have been told that they need to take the weight out of the top of the tree to protect from storm damage. But the truth is that topping makes the tree even more vulnerable because the new growth is so weak. It throws off the balance of the canopy and the root system, making the tree extremely vulnerable to wind. Not to mention how awful it looks.

“Most arborists will refuse to top a tree,” he adds. “But for others, it’s a real revenue stream. I would advise homeowners to beware of someone showing up at their door with a chainsaw and a ladder truck – that doesn’t make them qualified to prune your trees.”

Proper pruning is key

Of course, pruning is an important part of mature tree maintenance, often enhancing appearance while promoting safety. And while most experts recommend pruning plants and trees while they are dormant, Franklin’s City Arborist Todd Snackenberg says it can be helpful to work when some leaves are still visible.

“I usually say the last week of October through November is fine,” he says. “That way you’ll still have leaves on the tree, and you can see what you’re doing. You can certainly remove damaged or dead limbs any time during the year, but you want to avoid major pruning in the spring once the tree has flushed out because it can cause stress and hurt the growth. And you never want to take more than about 20 percent of the foliage when pruning.”

In the case of new trees, Snackenberg urges homeowners to hold off on pruning for at least a couple of years.

“Do your homework, pick a good tree and then don’t touch it,” he says. “It may take two or three growing seasons, but let it get established before you start pruning.”

Mind your mulch

Most people see mulch as an ornamental gardening tool used to enhance the appearance of flower beds and landscaping. But mulch also serves an important purpose – protecting trees by maintaining proper moisture level, moderating soil temperature and even improving the quality of the soil. However, Snackenberg cautions against “too much of a good thing.”

“What you want to avoid is the ‘mulch volcano,’” he says. “People seem to like that look, but when you have wet mulch piled up around the base of a tree, you run the risk of rot, fungus and wood-boring insects.”

Instead, apply a layer of organic mulch no more than 2-4 inches deep, and pull back several inches from the base of the trunk so that the root collar or crown is exposed.

“Some trees get a bad name because they are messy or maybe not as sturdy, but in the proper setting they might function well.” Skip Heibert Landscape architect

“It’s important to remember that the tree’s root system extends about twice as far out as the visible canopy of the tree,” he says. “So for a 1-inch caliper tree, you would create a 36-inch ring of dirt and cover it with mulch to hold moisture.”

Reading the signs

One of the first steps to avoiding tree hazards and disease is to recognize risks early on. Start by identifying the different species of trees on your property and understanding what a healthy tree looks like. Educate yourself about common problems and specific regional issues, and then regularly inspect trees to avoid major long-term damage.

“Take a look around your yard,” Heibert says. “Do you have leaves falling early on one tree? Or perhaps the leaves are yellow or wilting, while the rest of your yard is a vibrant green. It might sound obvious, but these are the kinds of things that many home owners ignore until it’s too late.”

Snackenberg says it’s also important to be on the lookout for dead limbs, which not only present a potential hazard, but also can provide a haven for insects and disease.

“With heavy rain or wind, the dead wood is going to be the first thing to come down,” he says. “So you want to keep trees cleared of that – especially if they’re near your house.”

Still, Heibert says that many problems can be avoided by simply planting the right kind of tree in the right location.

“Some trees get a bad name because they are messy or maybe not as sturdy, but in the proper setting they might function well,” he says. “For example, a hackberry is not necessarily a bad tree, it’s just not good for your driveway or pool area.”

Go with a pro

Whether you’ve sustained damage from a storm or simply have questions regarding the overall health and maintenance of your trees, it’s probably best to hire a professional arborist. An arborist not only has the experience and training to diagnose problems, he also has the necessary equipment to handle the job safely.

“Depending on the situation and the size of the tree, a storm-damaged tree can create a major hazard,” he says. “Particularly if you have large limbs hanging over your home, your car or near power lines. But I also recommend calling a certified arborist for major pruning and health updates. An arborist can provide a variety of services to protect your property and the health of your trees.”

“It’s really an investment,” Heibert says. “When you think about storm damage, you can replace a car and even rebuild a home – the only thing that can’t be replaced is a mature tree. Trees clean the air, provide oxygen, shade, beauty and add to your property value – so it pays to take care of such a valuable resource.”

To learn more about tree care or to locate a certified arborist in your area, visit the International Society of Arborculture’s website at isa-arbor.com.

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