Tips to Maintain Healthy Trees in your Garden

Trees can be a beautiful addition to your garden, and each of them tells its own story of what all it has survived. The condition of tree bark, color and health of its foliage, and the width of its growth rings hold key to mysteries that tree has lived all these years. Vibrant and full of life trees add character and style to your garden. To ensure that your garden trees stay strong and healthy year after year, they need regular maintenance. Let's have a close look at few tips to keep your trees in top shape.

* Clean up canopy and foliage

You should check the canopy of each of your trees, and look for damaged, dead, or some loose branches. You can do light pruning to remove broken or dead limbs. You can also remove ivy and other vines as they add undue weight to some of the tree branches. The tree canopies covered with clematis or ivy may have hard time withstanding pressure and weight of additional snow or wind so their removal is important for the health of your trees.

* Maintain trunk and bark

You should thoroughly inspect bark and trunk of each tree. Trees with structural defects may incur more damage due to heavy winds and snow. Look for the following…..
• Dead wood - All dead segments of the limbs and trunks will be brittle and won't be able to resist winds. This can be really dangerous if there is a larger limb close to your building.

• Decay - All hollow areas in tree mean it has considerable chances of failure. However, little decay in tree is not hazardous. If outer areas of tree are structurally sound, then tree is relatively safe. You should get all decaying areas of your tree evaluated by a professional arborist.

* Check tree's foot system

Closely monitor the root system of each of your garden trees. Trees with exposed or damaged roots are likely to fall in heavy snow or severe winds. If more than half of the roots of your tree has been cut or crushed, it may start leaning, or its soil appears forced up on its root right on the opposite side of its lean, you should get the tree evaluated by professionals to ensure its safety.

* Mulch

You should cover the soil around the tree base with a layer of mulch. This is very important in case of young trees or the ones that have been planted recently. A thick layer of wood chips, mulch or tree bark can protect tree roots from damage due to re-freezing and thawing. Aside from that, mulch also helps in retaining water, which provides moisture to tree roots.

* Tie its branches

You should also tie all loose tree branches using a twine. This is best for evergreen trees as they have foliage throughout the year. This also prevents breaking and splitting during winters.

* Consult a tree specialist

Trees are an important component of any well-balanced garden, and add beauty and variety to your yard. You can keep your trees healthy by checking them for any cracks, or other damage, and some mulching around their base. So to get expert assistance, get in touch with a trained arborist.