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When Hugs Just Aren't Enough: Trees Need Care, Too!

© Barbara M. Martin

In case you missed last week's article which was almost about hugging trees, or in case you just haven't been outside much yet this spring, here's a little music to help put you in the mood!

Back in 1872, some folks in Nebraska decided tree planting was a good thing to do, and they identified some basic benefits derived from trees: shade, shelter, fruit, fuel, and beauty. Still works for me!

For lots more fun tree facts from the practical to the historical up to and including voodoo, see the end of this article!

So, assuming we have some trees, how best to care for them? In many cases, well chosen and well planted and unabused trees DO take care of themselves. Or do they? Here is a great Tree Care 101 Crash Course. Now, occasionally we are forced to intervene. Storm damage is a strong motivator! The dreaded shade tree decline may be slower, but it is ultimately a kicker in terms of intervention. Inheriting a long neglected orchard or even a lone old apple tree, may push us to investigate some of the more specialized pruning techniques such as how to prune fruit trees, including the best way to train a new fruit tree and the best way to renovate an old and long-neglected fruit tree over a period of time.

Trees are living things, and pruning can work with or against their natural growth processes. That's why pruning at the "wrong" time of year is sometimes worse than no pruning at all! It is hard to give a basic overview of pruning because there are so many variables! But here are the basic pointers on pruning from the man who trains arborists, Dr. Alex Shigo's guide to tree pruning the right way.

The biggest catch on tree pruning is that trees are pretty big and in order to reach the top you either need to be Paul Bunyan or use special equipment. That's when you should call in a tree specialist.

Now there are tree specialists and there are tree specialists. The less desirable type uses only a chain saw and cuts off the top half of your tree, then makes an appointment to come back in a year or two to do it again. This is a self-perpetuating technique called Topping the practices and pitfalls of which are so passionately described by Joyce Anne Schillen. Eventually, that same tree specialist will talk you into having him/her remove the tree and replace it at great expense. If you think I'm kidding, look at these 1995 YOUCH statistics on tree care costs! Obviously, I am not thrilled with this type of "tree care".

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