For the Love of Trees

The best trees (like husbands) inspire devotion but require care.

Written by Martha S. Coffey

What do trees and husbands have in common? You can't live with them, but you can't live without them. Like husbands, trees can either be a help or a hindrance, purveyors of delight or despair. Fortunately, the careful selection of the best trees (or husbands), coupled with proper maintenance, will minimize associated headaches.

Choose Wisely

Start by requesting a free inspection of your property. After this, the arborist can recommend a schedule for maintaining your existing trees and the best new ones to plant. John Lewett of J.L. Tree Service Inc. reports that there are some varieties that definitely work better than others. From his many years of experience, he recommends the low maintenance and disease resistant white oak. Other good bets are tulip poplars and maples, which provide quick shade. He warns against magnolias that tend to grow too fast, obscuring views and sending out invasive roots. An alternative flowering tree that is ideally suited to the area is the Japanese kousa dogwood, a variety that is resistant to the blight that has afflicted many native dogwoods in recent years.

TLC Required

Volcanoes can be dangerous and unpredictable. Be careful not to create "mulch volcanoes" around new or established trees. Jim Harris, owner of Wood Acres Tree Specialists recommends a three-inch layer of bark mulch that stops two to three inches from the base of the tree.

To aerate mulch that has become compacted, he suggests using a new tool called an air spade that is powered by a compressor to blast away impenetrable mulch mounds and small, girdling roots that threaten to choke trees.

Another product in an arborist's arsenal is a chemical growth regulator that can be applied to the base of a tree. Harris explains that a growth regulator helps the tree direct energy to the roots instead of to the leaves. Not only does this produce healthier trees, it also serves to inhibit overall growth, which is especially desirable on small lots.

Give 'Em a Drink

Harris reminds us that fall is the ideal time for homeowners to give trees a "deep watering," especially broadleaf evergreens. This allows trees to store up water before the first freeze. He advises that some may benefit from an anti-desiccant spray applied the first week in December that prevents the tree from drying out throughout the coldest, windiest months of the year.

Neighborly Concerns

Sometimes despite the tenderest loving care, a tree may sustain severe damage and fall. Arborists Lewett and Harris concur that a damaged tree or tree limbs that cross property lines gives neighbors a prime opportunity to demonstrate cooperation. Both experts explain that the part of the tree that extends into your neighbor's yard is his responsibility since each homeowner is caretaker of everything in his airspace. A homeowner may prune limbs of a tree that shades his lawn or garden too much, but only if he can do the pruning from his property without jeopardizing the tree's health. If the pruning requires stepping onto the neighbor's property, then written permission is required. A helpful hint is to call on the services of a tree specialist who can advise and arbitrate, for like a competent lawyer, an arborist can do much to bring about a peaceful resolution to a troubled home landscape.