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Originally Posted On: https://houstonarborcaretreeservice.com/the-best-tree-services-for-maintaining-tree-health/

 

The Best Tree Services for Maintaining Tree Health

To ensure that your trees thrive and continue to contribute positively to your environment, it’s crucial to invest in professional tree services. Which tree services should you be considering, and why are they so beneficial to the health of the trees? Let Houston Arbor Care Tree Service’s arborists give you all the information you need.

Join us as we provide an overview of the best tree services for optimal tree health. We’ll discuss everything from pruning and root care to why tree limb removal might sometimes be the shortest path to a healthier tree.

If you have any remaining questions, direct them to our tree company by calling (281) 599-8733.

The Trees on Your Property: Benefits and Ideal Care

Trees line perimeters, tower over homes, and hang over garages and swing sets. They’re an integral part of any residential landscape—and for good reason.

Trees provide a host of benefits, such as:

• Aesthetic appeal: Trees enhance the visual appeal of your property, providing a natural and inviting atmosphere.
• Environmental benefits: Trees improve air quality by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen. They also provide a habitat for wildlife.
• Energy savings: Strategically placed trees can reduce cooling costs by providing shade and blocking wind.
• Property value: Healthy, mature trees can increase property values, making your home more attractive to potential buyers.

To maximize these benefits, it’s essential to ensure your trees receive proper care and maintenance. Regular tree services are key to keeping your trees healthy and your landscape thriving. Below, we’ll go through some of the most common and essential tree services out there.

Tree Trimming and Pruning

One of the most fundamental tree services is tree trimming and pruning. These practices are essential for maintaining your trees’ health, safety, and appearance.

The Differences Between Tree Trimming and Pruning

While often used interchangeably, tree trimming and pruning serve different purposes. Tree trimming’s primary focus is on improving the tree’s appearance by removing overgrown branches. It helps maintain the tree’s shape and aesthetic appeal.

Pruning, on the other hand, focuses on the tree’s health and safety. It involves removing dead, diseased, or damaged branches to prevent the spread of disease and pests and to ensure the tree’s structural integrity.

Benefits of Tree Trimming and Pruning

• Removes diseased and dead branches to prevent decay
• Reduces the risk of falling branches that could cause injury or property damage
• Encourages healthy growth by improving air circulation and sunlight penetration
• Maintains the tree’s natural shape and enhances its appearance

Tree Cabling and Bracing

Sometimes, trees need additional support to maintain their structure and prevent potential hazards. That’s when it’s time to invest in tree cabling and bracing. These techniques provide extra support to ailing trees. They are often necessary for trees with weak branch unions, heavy limbs, or structural damage, all factors leading to a risk of falling.

What Is Tree Cabling?

Tree cabling involves installing flexible cables in the tree canopy to redistribute structural stress and prevent branches from breaking.

What Is Tree Bracing?

Tree bracing uses rigid rods to support the tree trunk and branches, providing additional stability and preventing splitting.

How Does Cabling and Bracing Affect Tree Health?

When done correctly, these techniques can extend a tree’s life by providing necessary support to keep its limbs upright and prevent further damage.

Pest and Disease Management for Trees

Like all living organisms, your property’s trees are susceptible to pests and diseases. When you want to protect them, you need to keep a close eye on tree-specific diseases.

Regular inspections can help identify signs of pest infestations and diseases early. A common sign to look for is discolored or wilted leaves. Discoloration and wilting may indicate fungal infections or pest damage. Holes in the bark or leaves are other signs of insect infestation, while unusual growths, such as galls or cankers, can also indicate disease.

There’s no need to panic, though; chemical treatment options are available for managing pests and diseases. These treatments, such as pesticides and fungicides, can be effective but should be used sparingly and applied by professionals to avoid harming the environment. Prevention through proper pruning and trimming practices is typically the best method.

Tree Removal: When Is It Necessary?

While the goal is always to preserve trees, sometimes removal is the best or only option.

Reasons for Tree Removal

• Diseased limbs: Severely diseased trees can pose a risk to other trees and property. Many tree diseases can be spread from tree to tree.
• Safety hazards: Trees that are dead, dying, or structurally compromised are fall hazards and pose a risk to people and property.
• Landscape management: Removal may be necessary if your trees block sunlight, crowd other plants, or interfere with construction or landscaping plans.

What Is Selective Limb Removal?

In some cases, removing specific limbs rather than the entire tree can resolve issues such as blocking sunlight for smaller trees or plants or preventing damage from overgrown branches.

Tree Root Protection

It isn’t just about protecting what’s above the soil. Sometimes, you need to pay special attention to the parts of the tree hiding beneath the soil, too. Protecting tree roots is crucial for the overall health of your trees because roots are responsible for water and nutrient absorption. Not only that, but the roots anchor the tree in the soil. The stronger the roots, the less likely the tree will topple during a storm or other hazardous events.

Excessive traffic on your property may be compromising the health of your trees. Heavy machinery and foot traffic can compact soil, restricting root growth and access to nutrients and water. To avoid soil compaction, you should limit heavy activities around the base of your trees.

Proper mulching is also essential. By applying mulch around the tree’s base, the soil’s water-retaining capabilities will only improve.

Put Your Trust in Houston Arbor Care Tree Service’s Tree Care Professionals Today

Maintaining the health of your trees involves a comprehensive approach that includes regular inspections, proper pruning, pest and disease management, and, when necessary, strategic removal. Houston Arbor Care Tree Service is the team to call for all these services and more.

Bring all your tree-related concerns and service requests to us. You can reach our offices by calling (281) 599-8733 today.