The city of Portland is a haven for many different types of trees that add to its beauty and charm as well as provide numerous benefits such as improving air quality. Portland’s urban forests represent over 170 different species, consisting of approximately 236,000 street trees, 1.2 million park trees and seemingly countless trees on residential property.
When many of Portland’s neighborhoods were being established around a century ago, city planners included many tree-lined streets with a wide diversity of species in various projects. The city’s parks also reflect a similar diversity, with more than one-fourth being the native Douglas fir.
Essential Tree Care Maintenance and Tips
Due to the increasing awareness of environmental concerns, many people are highly interested in investing time and money in the proper maintenance of their trees. It is a wise move to consult a company that specializes in full spectrum tree service Portland has available. Most of the time, trees in Portland thrive and grow up to be very healthy and strong. However, sometimes trees get sick for different reasons such as parasites and diseases.
Getting your tree checked by a certified arborist is a surefire way to ensure that it is growing as it should. Professionals are better able to detect irregularities that you might not have otherwise noticed, such as dead branches, early signs of disease, or infestations.
Apart from consulting professional tree services and certified arborists, essential tree maintenance involves watering, pruning, mulching, fertilizing, protecting your tree from pests, checking for diseases and removing grass.
Just like any other living organism, trees require ample amounts of water to grow and stay healthy. While normal precipitation usually takes care of the job by itself, if there is a particularly dry period it can be a good idea to ensure that your trees get ample hydration.
Pruning
Besides watering, pruning and trimming is essential to keep your trees in good shape. Regular pruning helps trees to stay healthy by removing dead or sick branches and also to maintain a symmetrical structure and a favorable aesthetic. The best times to prune trees are in the early spring or late winter before the tree starts sprouting new branches.
Mulching and Fertilizing
Mulching is an effective method to help protect your trees from weeds, parasites and extreme weather and provides the roots with essential nutrients. As a general rule of thumb, mulching is especially effective as an annual practice. To ensure that your trees are getting enough nutrients, it is critical to regularly fertilize them.
Checking for Parasites and Diseases
Parasites and pests seriously damage your trees. Natural bug repellents or commercial products can help keep your tree free from pesky insects. If you notice significant damage or the problem is too big for you to manage on your own, be sure to contact your local tree services.
The same goes when checking for diseases, which can spread at a speedy pace and even kill a tree if not caught in good time. Discolored leaves, fungus, or stunted branches are all potential signs that your tree is sick.
Removing Grass and Protecting the Trunk
Removing grass around the roots and trunk can help your tree get the nutrients and water it needs since it will no longer have to compete with the weeds around it.
Most of a tree’s nutrient system is right underneath the bark, and keeping the trunk of the tree unscathed is essential for its overall health. It is a good idea to protect your tree’s trunk from sharp gardening tools and equipment. If you think your tree might be put at risk, you can wrap the trunk with a protective layer as a cautionary measure.
