- Watering
One of the most common reasons for the poor survival of new trees is inconsistent watering. Watering around the base of your tree ensures the root ball and the surrounding soil is kept moist, which encourages healthy root growth.
Watering Tips
- Water newly planted trees at the base, making sure to wet the entire root ball area.
- Water the tree as often as twice a week (approximately 35 to 50 litres) during the first growing season.
- Young trees (up to two years after planting) should continue to be watered at the base. The watering zone should expand outward as the tree grows.
- The soil should remain moist, but not wet to avoid depriving the roots of oxygen.
- If you are uncertain as to whether a tree needs watering, dig down 6 to 8 inches at the edge of the planting hole. If the soil at that depth feels powdery or crumbly, the tree needs water. Adequately moistened soil should form a ball when squeezed.
- Regular deep soakings are better than frequent light wettings. Moisture should reach a depth of 12 to 18 inches below the soil surface to encourage ideal root growth.
- Mulching
Mulching is a process of covering plants with “mulches” (leaves, woodchips, etc.), which provides several benefits to newly planted trees.
Benefits of Mulching
- retains moisture in the soil
- provides extra nutrients for the plants as the mulch decomposes
- helps establish young plants
- helps keep roots cool and moist in the summer and insulated in the winter
- suppresses weeds and competing grasses
- provides an important barrier against lawnmowers and string trimmers
Different Types of Mulches
- 1 year mulches (cocoa bean, mini bark, compost/humus)
- 2-3 year mulches (shredded/chipped bark, pine needle)
- for more information about mulching techniques, click here.
- Pruning
Pruning is the process of remove unwanted limbs that interfere with the health and safety of your tree. If you are unsure how or what to prune, contact a certified arborist.
Benefits of Pruning
- Improve the health and vigour of the tree
- Allow more light penetration which encourages photosynthesis
- Encourage growth characteristics that accentuate the natural form of the tree
- Safety of the person or property (i.e. removal of dead limbs, limbs over houses, lines, branches in front of signs, low branches over sidewalks)
What to Prune
- Remove the 3 D's first - Dead, Dying, Diseased wood
- Crossing, rubbing and interfering limbs
- Limbs that pose a danger to life, limb or property · For more detailed instructions, click here.
If you need your City tree pruned, contact us.
- Hiring an Arborist
An arborist is a professional tree & shrub expert. Arborists have the knowledge and equipment needed to care for your trees and shrubs. They can determine the type of maintenance necessary to improve the health, appearance, and safety of your trees. If necessary, a professional arborist will use a trained crew with the required safety equipment and liability insurance.
Here’s a checklist of minimum requirements to help hire a professional arborist:
- Check for ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification.
- Ask for proof of up-to-date insurance.
- Ask for a list of references, and check them.
- Verify that tree services are the primary focus of the company being hired.
- Addressing Damaged Trees or Branches
Damaged trees and fallen branches can be unpredictable. The City of Brampton recommends that residents seek qualified, insured tree care professionals to perform work on branches larger than 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter, or on trees within 4 metres of overhead lines.
Contact us to report City trees that are leaning on private fences, sheds and homes. City staff will then inspect these situations for immediate hazards.
For trees on private property, property owners must seek City approval in order to cut a tree with a trunk diameter larger than 30 cm, and 1.37m from the ground.
Click here for more information about the City’s Tree Preservation By-law. - Things to Avoid
Try to avoid lawn mower damage, root damage, salt, high nitrogen fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides when you are taking care of your new tree. Also, try to avoid putting ornamentation around your tree such as concrete rings; if the tree needs to be removed, this ornamentation may create issues or will be damaged. - Tree Pests and Disease
Click here to learn more about tree pests and diseases.
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