Care for Seedlings and Trees

Watering
* This is so important! *

Frequency: The seedlings should be watered diligently for several seasons, and thereafter as needed. Frequency is determined by checking the soil beneath the mulch - it should be moist but not soggy.

Technique: Lay a garden hose at the base of the tree. Adjust the water flow to a trickle and leave in place for 30 - 60 minutes.  This allows the water to soak deep into the soil, encouraging the roots to grow downwards.  Poured water spreads wide and absorption is shallow, which encourages the roots to grow upward.  When a tree’s roots are near the surface, the tree is far more vulnerable to fluctuations in future rainfall than a tree that develops a deep root system.

Mulching

Keep trees mulched, both young and old. This negates the need to “weed eat”, which is extremely damaging to a tree, regardless of its age*, and holds crucial moisture in the soil.  Create a donut of mulch around the tree trunk, leaving a 2-3” gap between the mulch and the tree. This prevents moisture from rotting the bark, as well as reducing the likelihood of rodent damage in the winter. If tree roots are visible in the grass, extend the circumference of your circle to cover them. This will prevent damage to the tree’s roots from the mower, and extend the life of the mower.

*Weed-eating: Mechanical weed eaters grind away at the bark, even on mature trees. The only living part of a tree is the Cambium layer, which lies just beneath the bark. Minor damage to the Cambium tissue results in a loss of vigor, which decreases beauty and increases vulnerability to wind damage and insects/disease. Continued damage will kill the tree. Simply put…never weed-eat around a tree!

Protect Tree From Deer

Protect tree trunks with a sheathing of mesh (plastic or metal), until the tree is a good 5”- 6” in diameter. Bucks will rub their antlers on young trees, removing the Cambium layer in very short order. A buck can kill a tree with only one episode of rubbing. It takes a long time until the bark is thick enough to protect against deer rubs.

Staking a Tree

Stake a tree only if it really needs it (ie: leaning unacceptably), and only as high on the trunk as you must to solve the problem. A tree trunk strengthens in direct response to the demands of its environment. It must experience strong winds in order for its trunk to strengthen properly.

Weed Eating
*Never, ever, weed-eat around a tree* 

Mechanical weed eaters grind away at the bark which is extremely damaging to a tree, regardless of its age… Yes, even on mature trees. The only living part of a tree is the Cambium layer, which lies just beneath the bark. Minor damage to the Cambium tissue results in a loss of vigor, which decreases beauty, shortens its lifespan, and increases vulnerability to wind damage and insects/disease. Continued damage can kill the tree.