News : Set It and Forget It!!!

Eric and Gram getting ready to plant a maple tree

 By Eric Schares,  Roadside Manager

So you've planted your tree and now all you have to do is sit back and wait 30 years to enjoy the shade, right? Wrong, there are still many things you can do to maximize the quality and longevity of your tree.

"But Eric, you are the Roadside Manager, why are you talking about trees?" Although that is true and usually in the roadside setting you are removing trees instead of planting them, I still have a passion for trees and tree care. I am also a Certified Arborist, and my coworkers will tell you I try to fit that title into any conversation I am having about trees as a badge of honor.

It's true that more than 80% of Iowa used to be Tallgrass Prairie with almost no trees in open areas. I think it is important to note that trees can be very useful now that the landscape has changed so much. Native grasses and forbs have their place and I'd love to see more planted, but let's face it, a native tree can be a great asset to your yard.

I'd like to talk to you about how to care for those trees once you've planted them. The first five years of that tree's life post planting can set that tree up for 100's of years. If not cared for properly, those five years can be the beginning of the end.

Let's start with the basics, water. I'm pretty sure your average kindergartener could tell you that all plants need water, but not everyone knows just how much water. Your average tree needs 0.2 tenths of rain a week for optimal growth. The last few summers in Iowa the rainfall total has been zero for many weeks in a row, so many times it's important to hand water your tree. A handy tool to help with this process is a tree watering bag. They wrap around the trunk and zip up like a coat. These watering bags can hold up to 20 gallons of water and drip it out slowly over the course of hours. A well watered tree will put on an extra foot or two of growth a year.

"I need to stake my tree right?" Are you afraid it is going to walk away? Everyone thinks you need to stake a tree right after planting, but I disagree. Most smaller trees can handle themselves if they are put in a good base and moderately packed in the soil. Watering a few times should help that soil fill in the gaps and solidify that root base. When a tree moves in the wind it helps establish root growth. I do like to leave the bamboo stick on the stem that most trees come with. As that tree grows I like to keep reattaching it a few feet higher off the ground year over year to help that central leader grow straight. If you are doing this be sure to keep an eye on any ties you've used to attach the stake so that they don't choke out and girdle that stem as it expands.

It is ok to stake a tree that doesn't want to stand up straight. In my experience though staking is more a tool to straighten out a bent tree than keeping them from falling over. If that root ball was prepped correctly when planting then those fibrous roots will start to take hold rather quickly.

Eric, I need to prune my lower branches up to make that tree start growing tall, right? NOOOOO, keep those lower branches for as long as possible. They help build a strong and thick taper on that tree's base. I would recommend pruning for a central leader on the stem and nipping back or completely removing any stems that are trying to overtake the leader. A good general rule for lower branches is to leave them until they are 1 inch in diameter but take them off before they reach 2 inches. It is a common myth that a tree needs to be pruned at planting to account for any roots that were trimmed off during planting. I would not recommend that. Think of a young tree's branches and leaves as its food source. Why would you reduce that tree's ability to consume energy from the sun?

Tree Trivia: How far out from the trunk do a tree's roots extend? Answer: Up to 2-3 times the distance equal to the height of the tree.

I could probably write a book on my experiences with post planting tree care and another on tree planting, but Faith says I'm only allowed a page and a half for this newsletter so this will have to do. Just remember if you aren't taking the proper steps post planting, that plant might make like a tree and leave.  

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