Spring Landscape Checklist

Spring is here to stay! Hopefully by now you have started to think about preparing your landscape for the year ahead. There are three must-do action items to cross off your list in April and May that will ensure your plants have a healthy and happy spring and summer season.

1. Prune (if appropriate for their species)

   Spring is a great time to prune your trees and shrubs and remove any branches that may have died or broken over the winter season. Regular pruning is crucial to encourage good plant structure, proper growth and prevent pests from moving in to your plant. Remove any crossing branches or canes, open up the center of the plant for good air circulation, and remove any spindly new growth. These will all encourage your plant to grow out and up! Before grabbing your pruning shears, make sure to research if this is the right time to prune your plants. You don’t want to cut off any buds that haven’t yet opened into flowers or spread diseases that love our warm, damp spring. You can always call your arborist to ask for advice or a consultation!

2. Mulch!

   Not only does mulch freshen up the appearance of your landscape for spring, but its nutrient-packed composition provides much-needed food for your plants. Read my blog post Choosing the Right Mulch to learn more about the many benefits of mulch.

3. Deep Root Feed

   Deep root feeding is really just a fancy term for fertilize. “Fertilize” has taken on a negative connotation because of mass-marketed chemical fertilizers that are extremely high in nitrogen (nitrogen causes plants to put on a lot of growth very quickly). These products are often applied incorrectly leading to negative affects on the environment and damaged plant material.

   The dictionary definition for fertilize is to “make (soil or land) more fertile or productive by adding suitable substances to it.” As Martha Stewart says, that’s “a good thing”!

   At Champion Tree, we offer custom-blended, low-nitrogen fertilizers that contain a mix of macro- and micro-nutrients. Depending on your tree or plant species, its current health condition and soil conditions, we have a variety of different nutrients we can add to your fertilizer mix from Iron to Manganese and Molasses. We work with eco-conscious, technology- and research-focused suppliers to always deliver the most safe and effective products.

Did you know that slow-growing trees are often stronger than fast-growing trees because their wood is more dense with fewer air pockets? This means there is less of a chance of snapping branches or cracked trunks.