How to Care for Shade Trees

If you are currently trying to plant trees in order to shade your garden, you will probably want something that grows very fast and provides plenty of shade. With the many types of trees available, you will have no problem finding a variety that will grow extremely fast and provide all the shade that your garden needs to survive. There are also many things you can do to speed up the growth of trees.

Life Span of Trees

Generally, trees are separated into two categories: long-lived and short-lived. If you are just looking for some temporary shade for your garden, you should stick to a short-lived tree. But if you plan on keeping it for years, go for a long lived tree.

If you decide on a short-lived plant, you are probably looking for something with speedy growth. This means the root system will be particularly aggressive, so be sure not to place it near any septic tanks or other deep-rooted plants. If the roots have plenty of areas to grow, then they will shoot out extremely fast and your tree will take off in growth. Your placement should also be based on the tree’s relative position to the area you are wanting to shade. You should keep it to the western or southern sides for maximum shading.

The Right Soil

Preparing your soil well for the shade trees can be the best way to enhance the plant growth speed. The bigger hole you dig for the root ball, the better. Also when you dig out the soil from the hole, you should work it over well before you replace it. This will allow the roots to penetrate through the soil better. If you mix in all your fertilizer and nutrients into the soil before you replace it, you will end up with a superior tree. Also, try to use organic materials as mulch. Bark and any branches or twigs work well for this and will encourage quick growth.

Buying a New Tree

When you buy your shade tree, it will usually come with the root ball balled up and in a burlap bag. It might also be grown in a container or simply with bare roots. If you get a tree in a burlap bag, you should plant it anywhere between fall and early spring. Trees grown in containers are ok to plant at almost any time of the year. If the tree just has bare roots, then the ideal planting time is anytime in winter and early spring. If you buy a tree that has been grown in a container, make sure that the roots are not constricted by the container. This will usually cause the roots to go in circles underground after you plant them. After you buy the tree and before you plant it, be sure to constantly add moisture to it.

Planting

The ideal planting process would include putting it in the ground at the proper depth and replacing the soil without compressing it too much. Immediately after planting, you should give the tree its first watering before putting the layer of mulch on. You should always use organic mulch and have a 2 or 3-inch layer of it at the base of your tree.

Tree Maintenance

As your trees grow, you may get shoots coming up from the roots. Keep them trimmed back. Also, branches need to be trimmed to keep the tree’s shape even, taking off diseased branches, and cut away low-lying ones so the tree can grow up tall and strong. Hire a tree service to assist in trimming. A tree service is experienced in recognizing which branches removed.

You should always use nitrogen fertilizer during the first segment of the tree’s life. Simply follow the instructions on the label in order to find out exactly how much to apply and when to apply it. Never apply too much fertilizer while the tree is young. You should usually wait until it has been established for about a year. The fertilizer that you do add should be sufficiently watered down.

If you are trying to grow a tree speedily, there are many more things that you need to consider. However, with proper planning, you can create the perfect environment for the tree to spring right up and provide you with plenty of shade within months.