Think of the tree you just purchased as a
lifetime investment and considering many tree species live for many
decades, they are a wonderful legacy. How well your tree, and
investment, grows depends on the care you provide when the tree is
planted, the care it receives after planting. Tree care is also an
investment. A healthy tree increases in value
with age-paying big dividends, increasing property values,
beautifying our surroundings, purifying our air, and
saving energy by providing cooling shade from summer's heat and
protection from winter's wind.
Practicing a good tree care program for
your landscape plants and trees is like putting money in the
bank. Regular maintenance, designed to promote plant health
and vigor, ensures their value will continue to grow. An effective
maintenance program, including proper watering, fertilizing, and
pruning, can help protect your investment. By including these
practices when caring for your
home landscape is an investment that will offer enjoyment and
value for generations.
The Easy Tree Care Program
We understand the importance of trees and the need for
easy, effective tree care. And we offer solutions
for all your tree care problems:
Proper tree fertilization or soil improvement with Algoflash and SoilSyrup
Improve growth and increase leaf area with MegaGro
We have the products that make caring for your trees a
breeze.
We offer several products that make tree care easy. These
products target 4 key areas that are incredibly important to any
species of trees: watering, feeding, soil, and
growth. If you use our Tree Care packages
you'll cover all theses in just a few easy steps. Our Tree Care
Package covers these four basic steps:
A vital and often overlooked factor affecting the health of your
trees and shrubs is soil. In fact, improving your tree's soil is
very often the best possible thing you can do to help it thrive.
Soil is not just dirt. Soil also contains large numbers of mineral
elements. The soil of a tree's native habitat contains the right
composition of minerals and the proper mixture of nutrients and
humus to enable the tree to prosper.
When a tree is planted in an urban environment, the soil is
almost invariably inadequate for ideal growth. It lacks certain
minerals, nutrients and often has low levels of humus. Add to this
the fact that most urban soils are also severely compacted and
often polluted, you begin to see why something needs to be done. So
you may ask "What Can I Do to Improve My Soil?
Fortunately, there is an easy way you can ensure your trees and
shrubs have the soil they need. Simply add
SoilSyrup. SoilSyrup helps the tree absorb nutrients and pass
on minerals and moisture required for the plant's growth.
Almost all trees in urban settings will benefit from the
addition of SoilSyrup to the soil. As a homeowner, one of the best
contributions you can make to your tree's health is the addition of
SoilSyrup to the soil. So Give Your Tree The Soil It Needs with
SoilSyrup.
As a liquid, SoilSyrup is easy to
apply, simply add SoilSyrup to your regular watering schedule or
better yet, add SoilSyrup to the Treegator® or Treegator Jr.
for deep root watering of your tree.
Tree Care - Better Watering with AquaRocks and TreeGator
Good tree care normally requires a lot of
effort. Trees require watering throughout the year. The amount of
water they need is based on the trunk size and monthly frequency.
In the spring and summer you should water small trees 4 times per
month, medium trees 3 times per month and large trees 2 times per
month. You should even water during the fall and winter, October
through March, water one to two times per month, depending on
weather, temperature and soil conditions, making sure the
temperature is above 40 degrees.
So if you don't have time to water your trees that often, how
can you make sure your trees are getting enough water? By using
AquaRocks.
AquaRocks are a water absorbing crystal that can store up to 400
times its weight in water, to help hold moisture from rain and
waterings. Using AquaRocks is an easy way to maintain consistent
moisture in the root zone and allows for better water absorption.
SO you trees can make the most of any water they do get. Perfect
for preventing tree stress in dry climates, long hot summers or
drought conditions. Stressed trees are more vulnerable to disease,
insect infestations and branch dieback. So use AquaRocks to
prevent tree stress and conserve soil moisture for better tree
care.
Adding AquaRocks to existing trees is incredibly
easily. Simply add AquaRocks to the hole you dig before
you plant your tree, or for established trees, poke a number of
holes around the dripline of your tree, add some AquaRocks and
cover with soil. Keep in mind that most of the roots are in the top
12" of soil, so you don't need to make the holes too deep.
TREE CARE TIP: A trees roots often spread out
in all directions for many feet from the trunk. This area is call
the dripline, and you can calculate the dripline by measuring the
diameter of the trunk in inches, cut that number in half and
measure out that many FEET from the tree trunk. So a tree with a
20-inch diameter trunk would have a 10-foot dripline.
Now that you've improved the soil, with SoilSyrup, added
AquaRocks to the trees root system for better water absorption. How
do you save time and make watering your trees with a hose quick and
easy?
In Just 5 Minutes Each Week you can effectively deep water your
trees. Installing and filling a Treegator® Original or
Treegator Junior Drip Irrigation Bag takes about 5 minutes with a
standard size garden hose. Treegator® delivers a large volume
of water deep below the soil surface, a trees' roots can
potentially feed off of this high concentration of water long after
the bag is empty. When used in conjunction with AquaRocks, it will
reduce the need to water your trees to once a week or less.
And Treegator® is the perfect way to deliver SoilSyrup and
Algoflash, simply add SoilSyrup or Algoflash to the filled
Treegator® for a time-release fertilization and soil
improvement program!
TREE CARE TIP: There is no watering exact
watering guideline that applies to every new or mature tree planted
tree; however many experts agree on using the following "rules of
thumb": 10 gallons per week for every 1" of diameter for newly
planted trees and for mature trees apply as follows: small trees
(1"-3" diameter) 10 gallons/inch, medium trees (4"-8" diameter) 10
gallons/ inch, large trees (10"+ diameter) 15 gallons/ inch.
Tree Care - Easy Feeding with Algoflash
Fertilization is another important aspect of tree care. Trees
require certain nutrients (essential elements) to function and
grow. When one or more of these nutrients are deficient in the
soil, the tree will not reach its full landscape potential, will be
more susceptible to disease and insect problems, and will have a
shorter life than a similar, well-fertilized tree. Urban landscape
trees can be growing in soils that do not contain sufficient
available nutrients for satisfactory growth and development. In
these situations, it may be necessary to fertilize to improve plant
vigor.
The main reason to fertilize trees and shrubs is to bolster
their health so they are better prepared to fight off pests,
disease, and environmental stresses. While fertilizer can't solve
all of a tree's problems, it will go a long way to give it a
fighting chance.
The easiest way to feed your trees is to use a complete
fertilizer like Algoflash, containing
both macro-nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) and
micro-nutrients (such as Iron, Magnesium and Manganese). Algoflash
is a water-soluble fertilizer that rapidly delivers nutrients to
the tree and won't over fertilize. Algoflash applied during the
growing season, will help your trees overcome mineral deficiencies
and fight off infections. And it's balanced formula let's yo0u
fertilize throughout the summer without promoting weak, new growth
that could be easily damaged in the winter.
Most trees experience a single flush of growth during spring
followed by slower growth throughout the summer and fall. Because
of this single flush of growth, it is desirable to have nutrients
available to the tree, as this growth is about to occur. The most
beneficial time to apply fertilizer is from when the ground is
workable in the spring until just before trees start growing in
early May. On sandy soils, applications should be split, half in
early spring and half in mid- to late May.
Fall to mid-spring is actually the best time to fertilize trees
with Algoflash in most Northern
temperate climates. During the fall, winter and spring, trees roots
absorb the nutrients from the soil and apply them to important
health-promoting functions such as root development and disease
resistance, rather than simply putting out new growth. So
use Algoflash fall, winter and spring for easier tree
care!
Another great way to deliver the nutrients in Algoflash directly
to the trees roots is simply to add Algoflash to the
TreeGator®. It's quick, easy and gets nutrients right
down into the trees root zone.
Tree Care - Increasing Leaf Cover with MegaGro
A trees leaves are it's energy source, converting sunlight to
energy and helping the plant grow. Having abundant leaf cover not
only helps the tree thrive, but also increasing the value of the
tree to your by providing shade. Once you've improved the tree's
soil with SoilSyrup, added AquaRocks to the root zone for moisture
retention, set up you easy watering system with TreeGator, and fed
your tree with Algoflash, it's time to get things really growing
with MegaGro.
MegaGro is a growth booster that will help stimulate new growth
and increase leaf area, giving you a healthier tree and more shade.
MegaGro works on all tree, shrub and bush species for better
looking landscaping.
MegaGro can be easily applied to
large trees and landscaped areas with our hose-end sprayer. And
just a treatment or two will have your trees and bushes looking
great!
If you want to learn more about Tree Care, Keep
Reading
Tree Care - Signs My Tree Needs Feeding
Trees in urban and suburban environments are often under high
stress conditions due to low moisture availability, soil
compaction, physical damage, nearby construction, and competition
from turf and nearby trees and shrubs. By using our
Tree Care products you can eliminate these sources
of stress. If you unsure whether your trees will benefit from
our products, read on and see if you see these signs of stress in
your tress.
The best indicator of the need to use Algoflash or SoilSyrup of
established trees is shoot growth. If new shoot growth (growth
occurring in the present year) is in excess of 6 inches, then all
your really need are AquaRocks and Treegator® to keep your
trees moist. If shoot growth is between 2 and 6 inches then you
could certainly benefit from using Algoflash and SoilSyrup, and if
shoot growth is less than 2 inches, then buy our Tree Care
package right now!
Foliage color is another indicator of the need for
fertilization. Yellow or "off-color" leaves may indicate the need
for Algoflash or SoilSyrup as these symptoms generally occur on
trees that are not taking up enough of one or more required
nutrient. Always remember, however, that apparently "off-color"
leaves are normal for certain plants such as 'Sunburst' Honey
locust and some maple and ash trees in the fall.
A final indicator of the need for Algoflash or SoilSyrup is the
history of the yard. Trees in yards that are fertilized for turf on
a regular basis probably don't need to have supplemental fertilizer
applied. Algoflash or SoilSyrup should definitely be considered if
shoot growth is less than 2 inches, even if your regularly
fertilize your lawn.
Yellowing may be due to a variety of nutrient deficiencies. The
most common reason for yellowing foliage is a lack of iron and
occasionally manganese. Deficiencies of these elements are commonly
due to poor soils that can be helped through liberal applications
of SoilSyrup.
To rapidly correct micro-nutrient problems such as iron, foliar
applications of Algoflash are recommended. Foliar fertilization
supplies needed nutrients directly to the leaf, where they are
needed. Foliar applications can be quickly applied to landscape
trees with a hand held sprayer, are effective in correcting
specific nutrient deficiencies for a short period of time. To
correct the underlying soil problems, applications of SoilSyrup are
recommended.
Tree Care - How To Plant a Tree
The best time to plant trees and shrubs is during the dormant
season-in the fall after leaf drop or early spring before bud
break. Weather conditions are cool and allow plants to establish
roots in the new location before spring rains and summer heat
stimulate new top growth. But you can plant trees any time during
the growing season.
Whether the tree you are planting is balled and burlapped or is
bare root, it is important to understand that its root system has
been reduced by 90 to 95 percent of its original size during
transplanting. As a result of the trauma caused by the digging
process, trees commonly exhibit what is known as transplant shock.
Transplant shock is indicated by slow growth and reduced vigor
following transplanting. Proper site preparation before and during
planting coupled with good follow-up care reduces the amount of
time the plant experiences transplant shock and allows the tree to
quickly establish in its new location. Using AquaRocks and
SoilSyrup can help reduce transplant shock of newly planted trees.
Carefully follow 6 simple steps, and you can significantly reduce
the stress placed on the plant at the time of planting.
Dig a shallow, broad planting hole. Make the hole wide, as much
as three times the diameter of the root ball but only as deep as
the root ball. It is important to make the hole wide because the
roots on the newly establishing tree must push through surrounding
soil in order to establish. Breaking up the soil in a large area
around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to expand
into loose soil to hasten establishment. This is particularly
important in new developments where the existing soils have been
compacted.
Identify the trunk flare. The trunk flare is where the roots
spread at the base of the tree. This point should be partially
visible after the tree has been planted. If the trunk flare is not
partially visible, remove some soil from the top of the root
ball.
Place the tree at the proper height. Before placing the tree in
the hole, check to see that the hole has been dug to the proper
depth-and no more. The majority of the roots on the newly planted
tree will develop in the top 12 inches of soil. If the tree is
planted too deeply, new roots will have difficulty developing
because of a lack of oxygen. It is better to plant the tree a
little high, 2 to 3 inches above the base of the trunk flare, than
to plant it at or below the original growing level. To avoid damage
when setting the tree in the hole, always lift the tree by the root
ball and never by the trunk. And make sure you straighten the tree
before you backfill. It can be difficult to reposition after you've
added soil to the hole.
Fill the hole gently but firmly. Fill the hole about one-third
full and gently but firmly pack the soil around the base of the
root ball. Then, if the tree is balled and burlapped cut and remove
the string and wire from around the trunk and top third of the root
ball. Be careful not to damage the trunk or roots in the process.
Fill the remainder of the hole, taking care to firmly pack soil to
eliminate air pockets that may cause roots to dry out.
Mulch the base of the tree. Mulch is simply organic matter
applied to the area at the base of the tree. It acts as a blanket
to hold moisture, it moderates soil temperature extremes (both hot
and cold), and it reduces competition from grass and weeds. Some
good choices are leaf litter, pine straw, shredded bark, peat moss,
or wood chips. A 2- to 4-inch layer is ideal. More than 4 inches
may cause a problem with oxygen and moisture levels. When placing
mulch, be sure that the actual trunk of the tree is not covered.
Doing so may cause decay of the living bark at the base of the
tree. A mulch-free area, 1 to 2 inches wide at the base of the
tree, is sufficient to avoid moist bark conditions and prevent
decay.
Provide follow-up care with our Tree Care Products Using
AquaRocks, SoilSyrup, Algoflash, Treegator® and MegaGro will
help keep your newly planted tree happy and healthy.
Tree Care - How To Prune A Tree
Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure next to
watering. Pruning is often desirable or necessary to remove dead,
diseased, or insect-infested branches and to improve tree
structure, enhance vigor, or maintain safety. Because each cut has
the potential to change the growth of (or cause damage to) a tree,
no branch should be removed without a reason.
Removing foliage from a tree has two distinct effects on its
growth. Removing leaves reduces photosynthesis and may reduce
overall growth. That is why pruning should always be performed
sparingly. Overpruning is extremely harmful because without enough
leaves, a tree cannot gather and process enough sunlight to
survive. However, after pruning, the growth that does occur takes
place on fewer shoots, so they tend to grow longer than they would
without pruning.
Pruning mature trees may require special equipment, training,
and experience. If the pruning work requires climbing, the use of a
chain or hand saw, or the removal of large limbs, then using
personal safety equipment, such as protective eyewear and hearing
protection, is a must and you may want to consult an Arborist to do
the job safely and correctly.
Tree Care - Mulching
Mulching can reduce environmental stress by providing trees with
a stable root environment that is cooler and contains more moisture
than the surrounding soil; much in the same way AquaRocks will help
your tree. But Mulch can also prevent mechanical damage by keeping
machines such as lawn mowers and string trimmers away from the
tree's base. Further, mulch reduces competition from surrounding
weeds and turf. An organic mulch layer 2 to 4 inches deep of
loosely packed shredded leaves, pine straw, peat moss, or composted
wood chips is adequate. Plastic should not be used because it
interferes with the exchange of gases between soil and air, which
inhibits root growth. Thicker mulch layers, 5 to 6 inches deep or
greater, may also inhibit gas exchange.
To be most effective in all of these functions, mulch should be
placed 2 to 4 inches deep and cover the entire root system, which
may be as far as 2 or 3 times the diameter of the branch spread of
the tree. If the area and activities happening around the tree do
not permit the entire area to be mulched, it is recommended that
you mulch as much of the area under the drip line of the tree as
possible. When placing mulch, make sure you don't cover the actual
trunk of the tree.
After reading all of this and using our Tree Care
Package, you be able to plant, grow and maintain healthy,
happy trees with less time and effort.
MONEY BACK
GUARANTEE: If you've read this far, and your still
not convinced Container Gardening products will keep your plants
greener and healthier. Remember all our plant care products come
with a 30-day Money Back
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Tree Care - Lawn Care - Garden Care
- Container Gardening - Flower Gardening - Vegetable
Gardening
surroundings, purifying our air, and
saving energy by providing cooling shade from summer's heat and
protection from winter's wind.