If you have mature trees in your backyard, they are likely very beautiful and may even hold some pleasant memories for you, such as being planted by you and your parents when you were very young. But as your yard’s trees slowly age, it’s important that you take a few steps along the way to keep them in great shape. If you want your older trees to stick around and stay healthy for a few more decades, here are four tips you should remember.
Protect Your Tree’s Bark
Whether you have only one older tree in your backyard or several, do all you can to protect the tree bark from getting damaged. In many cases, this occurs when lawn mowers or string trimmers accidentally hit the bark, cutting it in the process. When this happens, water vessels and tissue beneath the bark get damaged. To avoid this, be extra careful when mowing or trimming around your trees.
Mulch Around the Trunk
When it comes to residential tree care, one of the best things that can be done for your older tree is to spread a layer of mulch around its trunk. This insulates and improves the soil around the tree, protecting its roots from various types of rot and disease. For best results, make your mulch layer about three or four inches deep.
Prune Dead Limbs
If any of your backyard’s older trees have dead or dying limbs on them, prune these as soon as you can. By doing so, you lessen the chances of diseases spreading to other parts of your tree, which could ultimately kill it. Should you not be able to cut away these limbs yourself, don’t hesitate to hire tree care professionals who know how to do the job safely and effectively.
Water Trees During Dry Weather
Since your backyard trees are already decades old, you probably think they don’t need any extra water outside of when it rains. However, this is not the case, especially when the weather turns especially dry for several weeks during your area’s growing season. When you water your tree, do it slowly so that the tree’s roots can easily absorb the moisture. If you can’t water the tree with your garden hose, take a few buckets of water over to it, then pour out the water around the base of the tree very slowly.
If you take a few extra minutes here and there to follow these tips, your older trees will stay beautiful for many more years to come.