When it comes to commercial landscaping and commercial landscape maintenance, tree care and tree maintenance are essential. Healthy, cared for, and well-maintained trees add beauty and value to your property.
But the benefits of tree maintenance don’t end at aesthetics and financial gain. Healthy trees are unlikely to die, lose branches, and house pests such as termites.
Maintaining the health of your trees can prevent costly and devastating damage to your commercial property.
Plant Trees That Suit Your Property
Planting trees that aren’t the right fit or species for your property can cause major problems later. Commercial landscaping is a great way to ensure you choose the right trees and other plants for your property.
Space
First, you need to find the right type of tree. Then, you need to make sure you plant it in the right place. You want to be sure the trees you plant will continue to thrive even when they are fully grown.
That means considering the maximum height and canopy spread for trees in specific locations on your property. You have to consider how tall and wide the tree you plant will grow when it is mature.
Conditions
It’s also important to consider what hardiness zone you live in, the amount of sunlight, and soil conditions. Every type of tree requires a different amount of light, type of soil, and weather conditions.
Purpose
You will also want to consider the purpose of the trees you plant. Are you planting them to achieve privacy, provide shade, or for aesthetics? Do you plan to use the trees to create a windbreak, or will they line your sidewalks?
If you intend to plant deciduous trees, consider where their leaves will fall in the autumn. You’ll want to be a bit wary of where the leaves will fall in case they are difficult to collect or create an obstacle.
Tips to Consider
Here are a few tips you can consider when selecting trees for your property. If you choose a short, flowering tree, you won’t have to worry about them growing so tall they interfere with power and utility lines overhead.
Planting larger, deciduous trees on the west, southwest, or southeast sides of a building can provide shade in the summer without becoming an obstruction to desirable sunlight in the winter.
If you want to block cold winter winds, creating a windbreak of evergreen trees on the north side of your property is your best approach.
Plant Healthy Trees
Although a commercial landscape maintenance service will be able to advise you on what varieties of trees will best suit your property, it’s worth knowing how to differentiate between a healthy tree and a struggling tree.
Here’s how to select a healthy tree that will benefit your landscape for years.
Bare-Root Seedlings
When it comes to bare-root seedlings, you want to look for roots that are moist and fibrous. If you are considering a bare-root deciduous seedling, make sure their roots are equal to the length of their stems.
Balled and Burlapped Trees
When shopping for trees balled trees, you will want to assess the rootballs. A rootball should be firm when you touch it and firmest near the trunk. It’s also important the rootball is proportional to the size of the tree.
Container-Grown Trees
If you purchase a container-grown tree, check that the soil and the roots are knit together tightly. You do not want loose soil and wayward roots.
You also want to make sure the container is not so large that the roots have begun to circle. Finally, check how the roots have been pruned. They should not be wider than your finger and should have a clean cut.
Start Your Landscape Maintenance Early
It’s fairly common to wait until the spring to even begin to think about landscape maintenance. Commercial landscaping professionals know that beginning your landscape maintenance in the fall gives you a head start.
Starting your landscaping and tree maintenance in the fall can make your spring maintenance far easier and more successful. Here are a few tree maintenance tips to tackle in autumn.
- Prune branches
- Inspect for diseased and dying limbs
- Provide nourishment with water and mulch
- Check for insect damage
- Plant new trees
Following these tips will ensure your trees remain healthy through the winter. That way, you avoid any nasty surprises come spring. Planting new trees in the fall will also extend your growing season in the coming year.
Learn About Tree Diseases
Even if you’ve hired a commercial landscaping service, it is in your best interest to become familiar with at least the most common tree diseases. That way, you’ll be able to see the signs ahead of time.
All you need to do is know the types of trees that are on your property. Then, consult a tree disease guide to find out what signs you need to watch out for.
Another option is to hire a trained arborist to come out and check your trees once a year.
Get Accustomed to Observing Your Trees
Once you know what signs of disease and distress to look out for, get in the habit of observing your trees. When you are familiar with the way your trees behave when they are healthy, it will be easy to notice when they aren’t well.
The earlier you can diagnose a diseased tree, the better chances you have of saving the tree. Early diagnosis is the key to protecting your leafy investments.
Practice Regular & Proper Pruning
For the most part, trees do not need much attention to remain healthy. But there are a few easy precautions you can take to ensure a healthy life for your trees.
Regular pruning of dead and damaged limbs will help to maintain the strength and health of your trees. Remember not to over prune. Trees need time to heal between prunings; otherwise, it stunts their growth.
Leave Well Enough Alone
Not all trees like a lot of attention. Some trees grow much better when they are left alone. Still, certain human behaviors can be disadvantageous to the health of a tree.
For example, parking cars underneath a tree regularly can compact the earth and make the soil inhospitable for the tree roots. Building a structure too near to established trees can also cause damage.
Give your trees the space they need to thrive. Do your best not to interfere or allow others to interfere in ways that would damage or hinder their growth.
Review Best Tree Care Practices
When it comes to tree care, it is important to be intentional about selecting the right trees for your property. You would also do well to educate yourself on the types of trees and tree diseases that could threaten your investment.
Commercial property management is challenging, but landscape maintenance doesn’t need to be. Get a free landscape maintenance quote for your commercial Calgary property in minutes with Pro Property Services.