Long before there were awnings, umbrellas and A/C’s, our ancestors sought out trees for respite from the sun. We take our abundant access to trees for granted in this part of the world, but we don’t always have trees quite where we need them – especially around our homes.
The successful establishment of shade trees around our property starts with matching the right tree for the spot in terms of mature size, shape and growing site conditions. Next, your newly planted trees will require some extra care as they’re getting their roots established. Routine watering and lightly mulching around the base with a well-composted material are helpful, if not critical, for helping young trees make it through the dry spells that we’re currently experiencing. Lastly, once the trees are off to a good start, protect them from deer and lawnmowers! Deer will be attracted to the well-fertilized foliage of a young tree fresh from the nursery and even light browsing by a curious deer can be fatal. Careless use of lawnmowers and weed trimmers around young trees can cause irreversible damage to the tender young trunks.
To learn more about how trees can benefit you and your home, take a look at this tree planting plan tool developed by the US Forest Service and others: https://design.itreetools.org/
Brought to you by:
Brett Chedzoy
Senior Resource Educator in Agriculture and Natural Resources
bjc226@cornell.edu
