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