Having shade trees on your landscaping has many wonderful benefits. Underneath a big shade tree is the perfect place for a backyard barbeque or for children to enjoy some much-needed time outdoors. A shade tree will also keep your home cooler during warmer months of the year.

To get the full benefit of shade trees, you need to plant the correct species of tree and care for them correctly.

NM Tree Trimming has recommendations for the best trees to plant for shade, and some expert advice on maintaining your shade trees so they grow strong and healthy.

Planting Trees for Shade

All trees can provide shade, but there are some species that are built for the best shade. These trees typically have a thick, wider canopy that extends out nearly as far as it does upward.

In the following paragraphs, we’ve provided examples of shade trees depending on whether they would be best suited for your back or front yard.

Back Yard Shade Trees

Shade trees in the back yard are primarily for your own benefit. Next-door neighbors and passersby probably won’t see these trees very much, so they can be purely for shade and enjoyment.

In addition to shade, these trees can provide year-round color as well as some extra privacy from neighbors.

Here are a few popular options:

• Magnolia
• Sugar maple or silver maple
• Weeping willow
• Weeping cherry
• Red oak

If you have enough space, a live oak is another fantastic choice. Live oaks are considered the fastest growing shade trees, and are able to get very big. A mature live oak is able to reach up to 80 feet tall and up to 100 feet wide.

Many of these back yard tree suggestions get extremely big, so you definitely want to do your research to find out if the tree is going to have enough space to reach maturity.

If there is not enough room, its root system can damage your fencing or home foundation. You will also need to prune the tree every year to keep it manageable. A tree that grows too big for its area will probably have to be removed, which is an inconvenient and sometimes costly situation.

Front Yard Shade Trees

In the front yard, you are planting trees for your enjoyment as well, but they will be a lot more impactful for adding curb appeal and value to your home since they can be seen.

Purchase shade trees for the front yard that are somewhat smaller so they don’t overpower your home and landscaping. These trees should complement your landscaping in size and color, while still offering plenty of shade for front yard relaxation and play.

These are some of our favorites:

Red maple
River birch
Dogwood
White oak
Ginkgo tree

These trees are beautiful throughout the year, and they’ll showcase even more color in the fall months.
Another great choice for your front or side yard is the ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae. This tree looks like a hedge and can be planted in a long row to provide privacy and shade.

With options in mind, we encourage you to plant trees you like. In all honesty, any tree can be a “shade tree.” Assuming the trees you choose are suitable for the weather in New Mexico, they will provide your yard and home with some shade.

Benefits of Planting Shade Trees

The reasons to have shade on your property are numerous — there are a few that you maybe wouldn’t automatically think about.

Shade, Obviously – When temperatures soar, you don’t have to hide indoors if you have a nice, shady yard. Put a chair or hammock under your best shade tree and relax outside as long as you want.

Climate Control – Trees can help control the temperature in your yard and inside your house. Not only will trees protect you from glaring sun, but they can make it feel 10-15 degrees cooler under their canopies. This translates to less solar radiation on your roof and siding as well, which should also result in lower energy costs!

Better Air Quality – Trees produce oxygen and filter out pollutantsfrom the air, so there is healthier air surrounding your home. Arbor Day Foundation research reports that one mature tree absorbs around 48 pounds of CO2 out of the air.

Shelter for Animals – If you’re into bird watching or think chipmunks are adorable, your shade trees can give them all they need to build a habitat, find nearby food and raise babies.

Fun – What child doesn’t want a backyard tree house or tire swing? If you have children, shade trees will offer hours of fun and joyful memories.

How to Care for Shade Trees

Caring for shade trees is simple as long as you’ve chosen the type of trees for the climate in New Mexico. Healthy trees are strong and hardy after a couple of years, demanding little attention or maintenance.

Consult a local arborist from NM Tree Trimming if you have any questions about the care of your trees, or to help you select the perfect tree for your home.

After you have determined the best shade tree(s) for your yard, follow this simple care guide until your shade tree is fully grown.

Planting Your Shade Tree

The south, west and east of your yard get the most sun, so plant your trees on one of these areas of your yard. This is two-fold: 1) the trees will create the ideal amount of shade and 2) they will also receive the most amount of sun for healthy growth.

Pruning Your Shade Tree

Prune during the first year or two after planting the tree to help to shape it and help it form a strong foundation. To be safe, and for the best results, call NM Tree Trimming for tree trimming in New Mexico. A certified arborist will arrive at your home and deliver professional care for the tree.

Watering Your Shade Tree

Watering a new tree is very important. This will help them form a deep root system and will give the tree stability over the course of its lifetime.

Fertilizing Your Shade Tree

Fertilize a shade tree just like you would any other tree in order to support healthy growth. Fertilizer is not necessary for caring for a shade tree, but it can assist in helping your tree to grow faster and produce more leaves, which are the source of your shade.

We hope this blog post was helpful! Remember, when it is time to prune or trim a new shade tree, NM Tree Trimming can help! Call and a certified arborist in New Mexico will visit your home, examine the tree and lay out the best maintenance plan for its long-term growth and health.

Tree pruning is best left to professionals. It’s dangerous work, climbing trees, using chainsaws and dropping heavy tree limbs to the ground; and it can also be dangerous for the tree too. Trees that aren’t pruned properly can suffer from a lifetime of problems.

Rather than putting yourself in harm’s way and putting the tree at risk, find someone who is trained and experienced to do it for you.

This will lead to much stronger trees and a safer environment near your house for several reasons:

• Healthy trees are stronger and not as likely to cause damage during severe storms
• Cared for trees don’t attract or spread diseases and parasites
• Pruned trees grow more flowers or fruit
• Pruned trees provide shade while still allowing air to flow through their canopies and your property

NM Tree Trimming strongly encourages pruning trees that are very close to your house or all that are an integral part of your property.

Is Tree Pruning Necessary?

It is not required. But it is beneficial. Trees are resilient and grow on their own everywhere in the world, in various different climates and regions, without pruning.

That said, there are several benefits of professional tree trimming, so it’s definitely recommended for any trees that you value. This includes sentimental trees, fruit trees and flowering trees or trees that perform an important job for your home, such as shade or home to wildlife.

Tree Trimming Gone Wrong

Tree pruning is a difficult project. You need the right tools and a lot of knowledge to guarantee the job is done right. The majority of homeowners don’t have any of these!

But that’s alright, because there are a lot of services available who know how to properly prune trees for an affordable cost to you including all of the certified arborists in New Mexico we partner with!

Here are the 5 most common mistakes people make when attempting DIY tree pruning that can lead to many tree problems. These are things that a certified arborist from NM Tree Trimming will know, and that’s why their services are worth the price!

Trimming Too Much

When done properly, pruning is a never-ending process. Beginning when your trees are only 2 or 3 years old, they should be trimmed by an arborist if you value them and intend to keep them healthy.

A big mistake that homeowners make when pruning trees by themselves is cutting too much of the tree at a time. This happens because they have let the tree’s growth get out of hand and try to correct it all at once. Ideally, you should not cut off more than 5-20% of the tree’s crown at a time. It is a lot easier to do this during a season that there are no leaves, but an experienced arborist is able to properly trim trees any time of year.

Removing Bark from the Tree

When you cut a tree limb and gravity starts pulling it down, it can rip bark from the trunk right along with it. This exposes the tree’s inner layers, leaving the tree in danger of attracting diseases and making it easier for pests and rodents to find their way in.

To stop this from occurring, a trained arborist makes special cuts beneath big branches before making their final removal cut. Knowing exactly how to place these small cuts removes pressure from the branch collar and lowers the stress at the exact point of the main cut so the limb doesn’t tear.

Pruning in the Wrong Place

A certified tree specialist knows exactly where to cut each limb to prevent damage. This cut should occur just beyond the branch collar, the exact place where the branch connects to the trunk.

Cutting too close to the branch collar exposes the tree to pests and decay. Cutting too far away from it leaves an unsightly stump when the tree has recovered. Most DIY tree trimming leads to an improper cut, leaving either structural or aesthetic issues.

Pruning Big Branches

Branches any larger than 4 inches in diameter really shouldn’t be pruned unless it is absolutely necessary. Cutting off a branch of this size can result in imbalance in the tree and expose it to insects and decay as the tree recovers from such a large loss.

Conservative trimming annually ensures that your tree trimmer only has to remove branches that are 2-3 inches in diameter, which produces a more attractive shape for the tree and less risk of damaging the tree or exposing it to disease and insects.

Topping the Tree

Tree topping is no longer a type of pruning, and for good reason! During this process, tree trimmers would cut the top off of the tree to get the desired height. It was not attractive nor was it beneficial for the tree, so the majority of arborists do not practice tree topping anymore.

As a DIY tree pruning, you might think this is a good way to reduce the height of your tree with just one cut, but once you have cut off the top of a tree, there’s almost no chance it will ever regain a natural shape.

The Solution? Call NM Tree Trimming

Here’s the truth. Your tree may never recover from bad trimming.

Attempting this job yourself might seem like a way to save a little money, but you might end up with way more expenses trying to revive damaged trees, so it’s a lot safer (and more economical in the long run) to hire a certified arborist in New Mexico from NM Tree Trimming.

Limbs aren’t going to grow back. The tree will grow more, but it will not grow back in the same places, which causes odd shapes that could require years to correct. The tree could look bad for the rest of its life, all because of a single pruning error.

Bad trimming could also result in death of the tree. Removing too many branches (and, therefore, leaves) can inhibit the tree’s photosynthesis process, which means it won’t get enough water or enough sunlight and carbon dioxide to continue growing.

Cutting off too many branches might also send the tree into a state of shock. Shock isn’t necessarily permanent, but it does take a great deal of patience and care. Even with proper maintenance, a tree experiencing shock may still die.

Avoid all of these tree trimming mistakes and call NM Tree Trimming to speak with a tree care specialist in New Mexico able to devise a plan to ensure your tree continues to blossom and look beautiful for years to come!

Trees are living organisms, so that means that they can get “sick” like people and animals. A disease or other tree problem might take a while to show appear because of the sheer size of the tree, and once symptoms become obvious, it could be too late to restore the tree.

A professional arborist from NM Tree Trimming can diagnose and treat common tree issues so that you have a much greater chance of keeping the tree. Learn about our service here. Not only can an experienced arborist help to keep a tree from dying, but they can also help trees get more healthy growth and bloom more flowers or fruit with professional tree pruning.

Have you noticed a tree on your property that has always seemed healthy but suddenly seems like something is wrong? In the next section, we’ll describe some of the most common tree problems and what these symptoms mean.

If you see any of these things, act fast for the best chance of saving the tree and the ones nearby it.

Tree Diseases & Common Problems

These 7 things are the most common problems encountered by professional arborists in New Mexico. The moment you think one of these things is wrong with your tree, reach out to someone with the knowledge and tools to help!

Tree Diseases

Leaf Rust – Leaf rust is actually a fungus that is common in both plants and trees. The name originates from the yellow and brown spots this disease produces on the leaves.

Leaf rust is a problem because it interferes with the leaves’ photosynthesis, the process by which it breathes. Leaf rust can be treated with fungicides and selective trimming of the diseased leaves. It may be recommended to remove entire limbs with leaf rust.

Witches’ Broom – This common tree disease results in a large clump of twigs, dead leaves and branches that resemble a broom shape. It is caused by pests, unusually rainy weather or fungus. The formation of a clump of twigs and leaves is the tree’s reaction to infection or harm.

Some instances of Witches’ Broom are fatal for the tree, others are just considered a growth malformation. An arborist can diagnose the problem.

Mildew – Mildew is a fungus that grows on just about anything in wet conditions, but even when the wet conditions are over with, mildew can remain and thrive. Mildew usually appears as a powdery texture, typically white, and it usually appears on the leaves of the tree first.

The the best method for treating mildew is to apply a fungicide that includes sulfur. This will treat the existing mildew and prevent future mildew on the tree. You might also need to prune the tree to remove branches, fruit, flowers and leaves that have been affected by the mildew

Gall – Gall is a tree condition that occurs when insects build small nests on the leaves or twigs of a tree to leave their eggs in. Most galls are not dangerous for the tree, but none of them are attractive.

Gall appears as as bumps on the tree, in various sizes. They can be white, brown, gray or some color in between.

It is not necessary to treat the tree if there are galls, but they can affect the growth of new trees. Treat galls by killing the pests. You should also clean out from under the tree when the leaves fall off, since this is where the pests live during winter months.

Other Tree Problems

Incorrect Pruning – There’s an art to tree trimming, as well as many types, and if you aren’t sure how to do it, you could damage the tree beyond recovery. Consider the type of tree, season and other factors. Under-pruning (or a lack of pruning at all) is just as big of an issue. Only an experienced arborist should be trusted to prune trees to keep them healthy.

Lack of Water – New trees can be severely affected by drought. If you want to plant new trees on your property, you will probably have to supplement the amount of water they get from rainfall. A tree that doesn’t get enough water will have its growth inhibited. The first sign you are likely to noticed is scorched or dry leaves. Find more tips for new trees here.

Too Much Sun – Do your initial planning before planting trees in a full-sun area of your property. Many types of trees can handle it without issue, but too much sun can become a problem for any tree if the sun is harsh for an extended period and rainfall is light. A tree that is getting excessive sun needs extra water to fight against wilting, drooping leaves.

Certified Arborist Services in New Mexico

A certified arborist from NM Tree Trimming will quickly diagnose what’s going on with your sick tree and put together a plan to rescue it if at all possible.

Here is what an arborist is trained to do:

• Inspect trees from below and from the branches of the tree if possible. Getting into the canopy is typically necessary to understand exactly what is leading to the symptoms.
• Treat your tree through fertilizers and additives in the soil or solutions sprayed on the leaves. This person will have expert knowledge about the disease impacting the tree and the best treatments.
• Trim tree limbs to eliminate dead or damaged branches and to help healthy growth. Even if heavy trimming is needed, they will know how to cut off branches so that the tree survives both the disease and the trimming process.
• Remove the tree from your lawn if nothing can be done to save it. The worst case scenario is that the tree is too far gone, and removing it is the only way to protect your property and surrounding landscape.

They can also educate you about the other trees that you have om your property and how to best care for them so you don’t find yourself in the same situation in the future.

Many tree problems look very similar to one another, requiring a professional eye to correctly diagnose and treat the problem. If your trees appear to be dry, unhealthy or disfigured, call a certified arborist from NM Tree Trimming for an inspection before it’s too late.

When it comes to the question, “What time of year is best for tree trimming?” The answer can be indirect.

Tree type dictates when many species are able to be trimmed, along with pest population and activity, local tree and plant diseases and other plants and trees in the yard.

With the assistance of a certified arborist in New Mexico, you can figure out which time of year is ideal for trimming your trees to set them up for success next season and beyond.

Best Season to Prune Trees

Without any other context, NM Tree Trimming recommends trimming trees in the winter. This ranges from November to March in most areas. This season is best because trees are mostly dormant, so pruning will lead to a minimal amount of harm, if any.

There are a lot of benefits to pruning trees in the winter:

Less risk of insect damage and disease – Pests and plant diseases are largely inactive in the winter. Throughout the rest of the year, anything from insects to fungus can harm a freshly trimmed tree because the tree is most susceptible and these issues thrive during warmer weather.

Easier to determine the shape of the tree when the leaves are gone – Leaves stop your arborist from seeing the complete shape of the tree. When tree branches are bare, it is a lot easier to see diseased or dead limbs and branches that are touching versus those that are just close together.

Trees have time to heal before spring – By doing this significant tree trimming during the winter, your trees will have several months to build up callus tissue on the tips of the remaining branch collar. By spring, you’ll barely be able to tell where the branches were cut off, and the tree will be able to devote its energy to produce new, healthier leaves, fruit or flowers rather than healing new cuts.

Less chance of harming nearby landscaping – Most of the surrounding trees and greenery will also be dormant, so there is less risk of them. Many times, a tree is surrounded by annual plants in the spring and summer, but there are no plants to be disturbed in the winter since these annuals already died out.

Do All Trees Need Trimming?

Yes, all trees benefit from routine pruning. Tree pruning every winter is good for trees, but it is also a precaution for the safety of your landscaping and your family. Let us explain:

Trimming Makes the Tree Stronger

Dying and diseased limbs are cut off, as are stubs that are susceptible to pests and disease. Branches that can rub one another are also pruned so that they don’t weaken one another or cause an open wound on the tree.

Trimming trees each winter is a great way to get expert eyes on your trees so that early warning signs of decay, disease and pest infestations can be spotted and dealt with right away.

A Well-Maintained Tree Serves Its Purpose Better

When a tree is overgrown, it starts to be hard for water and nutrients to reach every branch. This can leave the tree looking weak and sick and definitely not doing what it’s meant to do.

Pruned trees, on the other hand, produce more fruit, healthier leaves and provide better shade. They are fuller and healthier and less likely to cause landscaping issues. So regardless of why you planted a new tree, routine trimming each winter will maximize the results you desire from it.

Trees are More Attractive After Pruning

If the view of your landscaping is important to you, tree pruning is important! Pruning trees results in an attractive, uniform size and shape. This is important if you have a lot of similar trees on your property.

Eliminating lower branches and upper branches that grow at awkward angles improves the overall beauty of the tree while also promoting tree health.

Less Chance of Dropping Branches

Tree pruning – done the right way – helps the remaining branches to grow healthier and stronger. Therefore, storms and high winds won’t affect your trees the same way they would an unkempt tree. Your home and family will be much safer living under and around trimmed trees.

Another safety concern for overgrown trees is that they can block the view of traffic lights, road signs and driveways. Tree pruning, crown raising and other certified tree care services will keep the tree at a good size and stop it from blocking various views.

Call NM Tree Trimming for Tree Pruning

Working with a certified arborist in New Mexico gives you access to their knowledge on the subject of tree trimming. We strongly recommend relying on their years of experience if you have trees on your property that you’d like to keep healthy for awhile.

An arborist doesn’t just consider the current situation. Instead, an arborist will take time to research your trees and understand their unique scenario (including their location and other factors that could put them at risk). After gathering all the information, an arborist will make a long-term plan based on your trees’ unique needs and stick to that plan until your goals for your trees are achieved.

This plan could take years to implement, but rest assured, it will result in healthy trees that you and your family can enjoy for many years to come.

This kind of ongoing care will result in healthy tree growth, help your landscaping resist plant diseases and enhance flower or fruit production from your trees. It will also strengthen your trees so there is not as much risk of falling trees or limbs.

Being proactive about tree trimming will save you a lot of money as well. Preventative maintenance is far more cost-effective than paying for emergency tree services, storm damage cleanup or curing a sick tree of a disease that has spread out of control (and one that was easily preventable).

If you care about the health of your trees and the curb appeal of your landscaping, trust a certified arborist for tree pruning and maintenance from NM Tree Trimming. Find our service area here. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Mexico. Call today!

Tree pruning in New Mexico is a professional service that can beautify and reinforce your trees so they can fight off insects, diseases and severe weather – and look wonderful while doing it!

Pruning should be done if you want a healthy tree, but it has to be done properly by someone who has experience in what they’re doing. Like a certified arborist from NM Tree Trimming. You may be able to prune and trim trees safely while they are still small and developing, but you also may do permanent damage to the tree in the process.

To properly prune trees, you must know all of the following:

• When to prune your types of trees
• How much of the tree should be pruned at a time
• Where to cut each branch so you do not damage the tree

Taking too much off of a tree could kill it or lead to structural damage, but precise pruning done each year benefits trees in many ways. Pruning improves the appearance of trees, makes them stronger, removes dead or diseased portions and increases fruit or flower production.

Ideally, pruning needs to be completed annually, but as trees get older, you may be able to go two years between pruning services. Regardless of how routinely you have your trees pruned, be sure your arborist is qualified to perform the type of tree pruning your trees need. This won’t be an issue if you call NM Tree Trimming in New Mexico!

Types of Tree Pruning Methods

There are 7 different ways to properly trim a tree so that it grows stronger and healthier each year.

Depending on the shape, type and health concerns of your trees, one pruning method might be more beneficial than another, but each technique has different benefits to consider.

Crown Thinning Your Trees

Crown thinning is popular for larger, overgrown trees in New Mexico. This process eliminates weak branches within the crown of the tree to allow more sunlight and air flow through the crown. Air flow is especially important to help prevent disease.

This pruning technique also removes branches and limbs that are touching so they do not rub against each other and snap or cause weaker areas that can be an access point for pests. Branches that grow at strange angles are typically removed during crown thinning.

Crown Raising Your Trees

This tree pruning method removes branches at the lower part of the crown so limbs start higher up on the trunk. Allowing low branches to get too big makes them very hard to cut off, and they can draw nutrients away from the top of the tree, resulting in less fruit and a weaker tree.

There are many reasons you may decide to raise the crown of a tree. Often, it is done to clear the line of sight for automobiles and pedestrians, but it can be done to create space for landscaping beneath the tree.

It is a common method for large trees that are too close to homes and buildings.

Crown Reduction

Crown reduction reduces the overall size of the crown from its exterior edge. It shortens branches vertically and horizontally to keep the tree at a manageable size. By lowering the size of the crown, you can remove the need to chop down the tree because it won’t come into contact with traffic lights, power lines or street lights.

Even when the tree isn’t near structures like those listed above, crown reduction can help the tree look neater because it also removes irregular growth. This is a smart idea for trees that are various ages but are supposed to look uniform.

Crown Cleaning

Often referred to as deadwood pruning, crown cleaning is a minimally invasive type of tree pruning technique that eliminates dead, broken or diseased branches so that the rest of the tree may continue to grow normally. These branches can only create issues later.

Crown cleaning makes the tree look much better, and it prevents branches from rubbing together. It is also a safety practice that lowers the risk of branches falling, because healthy branches rarely fall.

Crown Restoration

Crown restoration is a focused trimming technique used on trees that were severely damaged (either by weather or vandals). It should be done by a certified arborist who knows where the tree is going to grow in the future and how long it’s restoration will take.

Unlike most other tree pruning services, crown restoration occurs throughout an extended period of time with conservative pruning that reshapes the tree. The arborist should have a plan to restore the tree, but also be flexible as the tree starts to grow and reshape on its own, adapting to the tree’s new growth pattern.

Vista Pruning

If you want trees to add to the beauty of your landscaping, you are probably interested in vista pruning. The purpose of vista pruning is to help to make the tree more aesthetically pleasing from a particular viewing point.

It consists of many pruning techniques including crown thinning, crown reduction and crown cleaning – anything that makes the trees look more attractive. Remember, though, that an arborist will never compromise the health of a tree, so the primary focus of vista pruning is still to create strong, healthy trees.

Espalier Pruning

Espaliered trees are heavily pruned to grow flat up against walls or a trellis. It is a unique style of pruning that is sure to attract a lot of attention to your landscape. Espalier pruning has to begin when the tree is very young and then done consistently throughout the tree’s life span.

Benefits of espalier pruning include facilitating maximum sunlight to reach the trees, as well as making it easier to harvest fruit.

Professional Tree Pruning in New Mexico

Tree trimming can be dangerous for a tree, your landscaping, and, of course, for you! NM Tree Trimming highly suggests professional tree pruning over attempting DIY.

Aside from the possible dangers of tree trimming, you can do a lot of damage to a tree if you don’t prune it properly. Excessive pruning is one of the most typical mistakes made by homeowners caring for their own trees.

Trees in New Mexico that get routine care from a professional are usually much better off, and hiring an experienced arborist from NM Tree Trimming to prune the trees on your property is a choice you won’t regret. Locate your city in our service area. We work with arborists across the entire state of New Mexico!

Planting a tree on your land has several benefits. Trees give summer shade, filter polluted air and increase curb appeal and property value.

Once grown, trees are very easy to care for: another benefit! They are strong and tend to grow even with minimal care. But, if you want to see your trees reach their maximum potential, they need more effort.

Lack of care for growing trees might cause rotting, disease, under watering or pest issues.

Fortunately, caring for trees isn’t very complicated, but you do need some tips to do it correctly. Educate yourself with the new trees you plant to know what they need. Then care for them and watch them flourish.

Here, we’ll list the five best practices for planting a new tree and seeing it grow. You probably know the basics, so let’s dive a little deeper and detail how to complete each step correctly.

Tree Care Tips for New Trees

These five tips will not only help keep trees alive, they’ll help them to grow faster, stand up to extreme winds, fight off diseases ,insects and pests and create more leaves, buds or fruit.

Water Your Tree

New trees need a lot more water than older ones. The trees you plant on your property are no exception.

The root of the tree and the soil all around it should be kept moist, but don’t let it get soaked, as this might cause some of the roots to rot.

The best practice is 4-10 gallons of water per week. This includes rain water, and although it’s challenging to have an exact reading, a rain gauge can help get you close enough to add the rest. Your new trees will need this much water every week for the first 2-3 growing seasons.

Mulch Around Your Trees

Mulch is more than an attractive lawn care material. It actually helps protect new trees, especially the roots. But laying mulch the wrong way can result in rotting and decay – so much so, in fact, that the new tree will not survive.

Place mulch 3 inches away from the tree trunk and spread it around to completely cover the ground underneath the longest limb. For new trees, this isn’t going to be very far, but as the tree grows, your mulch area will grow substantially.

Keep the mulch 2 to 4 inches thick in all areas. Be attentive in keeping it spread out consistently and far enough away from the trunk of the tree so it does not impede air flow around the trunk.

Fertilize Around Your Tree

Fertilizer provides many nutrients your soil might not naturally have. Most new trees benefit from fertilizing, but you have to be using the correct products and doing it at the correct time for fertilizer to be most impactful.

The best time of year to fertilize is early spring. Sometimes early summer also provides the right conditions (comfortable temperatures and wet soil), but don’t count on it.

If you are unsure about which fertilizer to use, consult a tree care professional for advice. Slow-release fertilizers are often a good idea because they feed trees over time rather than all right away.

Follow through with these things in the initial growing seasons after planting a new tree, and then reevaluate your watering, mulching and fertilizing needs as the tree gets older. As seasons go on, there will be tree care projects that are more important for your young trees.

Trim Your Tree

Tree pruning is very important – yet very tricky – in the first years after planting a tree. As the tree grows bigger, you may see a lot of little branches take off, trying to become the tree’s trunk. You may think this means that the tree is healthy and growing well, it can actually lead to a weak tree in the future.

Early trimming helps to shape the tree into what it is going to ultimately look like when it becomes much larger. As tiny branches emerge from the lower trunk, they have to be cut off so they don’t suck water and nutrients from the branches at the top of the tree.

As long as there are trees growing on your land, they need to be pruned periodically. When the trees get too big for you to prune them safely, you can rely on NM Tree Trimming to do it for you.

Monitor Your Tree

Young trees are at the highest risk for damage, disease and pest issues. But you’re never completely safe from these issues. As your tree grows older, monitor it carefully for signs of disease or poor nutrition, including the following:

• Leaf color changing out of season, with leaves turning brown or yellow
• Premature leaf drop, regardless of whether leaves appear healthy or sick
• Withering, despite adequate watering
• Single limbs or branches dying
• Bark peeling

These signals likely mean a health problem. It is likely going to require professional maintenance if your goal is to keep the tree alive. A certified arborist can usually identify the problem by simply looking at your tree, although they will perform testing if necessary.

If you identify the issue early enough, you will likely be able to save the tree. Being proactive is the best way to protect younger trees.

The tips above are simple yet effective. Don’t underestimate the value of the basics! When your new trees have pruning, fertilizer and more,, combined with sunshine and barring any severe, damaging weather, the chances are in your favor that the tree will survive and look beautiful!

Of course, you may already have a very busy schedule and don’t really want to perform these additional lawn care projects. In most cases, homeowners don’t have the physical ability to give their growing trees the necessary care.

Whatever the situation, it’s ok to hire a professional for the care of new trees. A professional arborist in New Mexico can advise you about the best course of maintenance for each type of tree you plant on your property. Arborists love sharing their expertise and skills with homeowners planting new trees on their land, and they can make the difference between trees struggling and trees that thrive.

Call NM Tree Trimming now for information on routine tree care in New Mexico – including tree pruning – for newer trees and old trees. An arborists will determine the best plan for your trees! Locate your city in our service area here.