Trees and plants that bloom in the spring are beautiful and bring aesthetics to your property. However, sometimes mother nature isn’t done with sending some unexpected frost. Buds can be susceptible so early in the season, but dominate buds will survive and bloom just fine. On the other hand, if some of the buds on your trees or plants are showing signs of opening or swelling? You can protect them during a frosty night by turning on a sprinkler because moving water is harder to freeze.
According to the experts at Aussie Tree Care, when plants and trees are actually frozen and encased in ice? The ice produces heat, and they will suffer very little damage. As a matter of fact, plants and trees that are unprotected from ice and suffer from just frost damage alone will most likely die. You can also get service of Elk grove tree experts.
Here are seven more ways that will help you care and protect your trees and plants:
- Care for Young Trees
Be careful how much water you give to a young tree, especially when it’s first planted. Don’t over saturate the area. Instead, make a small saucer in the dirt around the trunk and let a garden hose trickle into it. This will prevent the water from running off and keep it over the root ball. Additionally, you should do the same thing the following season. Eventually, the tree’s roots will grow and search out water beyond the root ball, which is exactly what you want. You can also encourage the root’s growth at this stage by watering beyond the root ball.
- Mulching
When it comes to mulching for plants and trees, it’s a good idea to leave at least four inches of space around the stem or trunk. Mulching does give your landscaping a polished and professional look, and it also keeps the soil moist and helps to eliminate weeds; however, if your mulch is too close, it can cause problems. It’s also not wise to lay down thick layers of mulch because this can limit soil aeration and smother your roots. A nice and even thin coat of mulch will give you the best results.
- Planting Evergreens
You should never plant evergreens close to the road in cold weather climates because the salt that is used by public works to melt ice will splash the needles, eventually dripping into the soil. When this happens, it doesn’t take long for a healthy tree to brown out and die. It’s better to plant trees next to the road that can handle the salt spray like white pine, which is a salt-susceptible evergreen. Some other alternatives include Austrian Black Pine, Sycamore Maple, Sour Gum, Red Mulberry, and Japanese Black Pine.
- Spider Mites
Spider Mites are every tree and plant’s worst nightmare. They cause havoc by living on the underside of leaves. They like to spin silk webs for protection, but they also damage the plant’s cells when they feed. One way you can protect your plants and trees during hot weather is to water them with a garden hose every day. There are some great products that also work well to discourage spider mites; however, a garden hose is cheap and dislodges their home and prevents multiplication. Water is an excellent non-toxic preventative for spider mites.
- Fertilizing Plants
For healthy and strong plants, it’s a good idea to fertilize them every few weeks. House plants should be fertilized every two to three weeks because they lack the organic matter that outdoor elements provide. Most fertilizers utilize a three-number series. These numbers reflect the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contained in the product. For most indoor and outdoor plants, a safe combination is a 10-10-10 or 6-12-6 mix. For the best results, read the manufacturer’s directions for mixing liquid or powder fertilizers.
- Routine Weeding
You should weed your gardens, plants, and trees on a regular and routine basis. Weeds are pesky little buggers, and they can reappear overnight. Not only are they an eyesore, but they also use nutrients that should be going to your plants and take up unwanted real estate. It’s always a good idea to remain vigilant and pull them as soon as see them. Try to get a firm grip on the lowest part of the weed and get the roots because getting the roots will slow down the growth rate of weeds. Chemical weed killers are not plant-specific, therefore, they can kill surrounding plants. It’s better to do it by hand to protect your plants from harmful chemicals.
- Remove Dead and Diseased Leaves
Dead and diseased leaves should be cut off on a regular basis because plant disease can quickly spread throughout a garden. Injured plants from storms and wildlife should also have their limbs removed because it can affect the rest of the plant. It’s always a good idea to inspect your trees and plants for injured limbs, browning or yellowing leaves, and other signs of decay by using a pair of garden shears to remove them. Never leave your dead or diseased leaves and limbs in your garden as compost because if they do have a disease, it can spread to other plants. Throw them in the trash can or burn them.
Additional Tips for Keeping Your Trees and Plants Healthy
You should never plant trees or plants too close together because as they grow they will be competing for space. Trees and plants that are planted to close to each other will not grow to be very big because there aren’t enough nutrients in the soil for all of them. The stronger or more dominant plants will choke out its neighbor. If you notice one or more plants that are not growing as they should? Look for the one that is, and relocate it to a different garden plot or put it in its own pot. Additionally, you should always use potting soil from your local garden center for the best results.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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