| What's the one thing that makes a yard? It's not size; | | | | climate and tree-type. |
| it's not grass; it's not flowers, garden gnomes, | | | | Finally, you want to prune your trees. Pruning will allow |
| walkways or outdoor accessories. It's trees. Everyone | | | | your trees to take on a manageable shape and grow |
| loves trees; everyone wants trees. It doesn't matter | | | | to their full potential. You'll want to start by removing |
| where you live, or if you already have a million, | | | | any small dead or dying branches. Then, get rid of |
| accumulating more shade givers in your front and | | | | branches that appear to be too heavy to remain in the |
| back yard is an admirable and common goal. But what | | | | air. This will not only help the tree but you as you |
| some people forget is that it's not just buying and | | | | continue pruning, as it will limit the possibility that a |
| planting the trees that creates a veritable forest | | | | branch could fall and strike you during work. |
| around your home; it's also caring for them - watering, | | | | When you make the first cut, cut a foot or so from |
| fertilizing and pruning the trees - that keeps your hard | | | | the trunk of the tree. Make a second cut a few inches |
| lush, green and healthy. | | | | out from the first. If it's a large limb, it should fall on its |
| The first step is watering the trees. You don't want to | | | | own and you can remove the remaining stub at the |
| over-water, nor do you want to under-water. You | | | | edge of the branch collar, or bulging area where the |
| have to find the perfect balance between drought and | | | | branch meets the trunk. From there, the wound you |
| soaking. If you have young trees, that balance will | | | | have created by removing the branch should callus |
| involve more frequent watering than if you have older | | | | over without decay. You should not need a wound |
| trees. Older trees only require watering during | | | | dressing, unless something has gone wrong in the |
| extremely hot periods. During those times, they will | | | | pruning process. |
| require a deep, thorough watering at least once a | | | | Whatever you do, you do not want to top a tree, |
| week, but when it is cooler if not damp, they need | | | | meaning you don't want to take shears to the top of |
| nothing but nature. | | | | the tree cutting off everything sticking up beyond a |
| You also want to fertilize your trees, particularly if you | | | | certain point, unless you absolutely have to. This act |
| have experienced drought, infestation or disease. Doing | | | | usually stunts the shape of a tree and takes away |
| this once a year will ensure that your trees continue to | | | | from aesthetics. |
| grow and encourage flowering. The best times for | | | | Your trees should be assets to your yard - they |
| fertilization are in the early spring or late fall. To know | | | | should be something you are proud of. Take care of |
| what kind of fertilizer to use and how to apply it, | | | | them with proper watering, fertilizing and pruning, and |
| contact a local tree specialist with experience in your | | | | they will be. |