Extreme Tree Care: Corrective Pruning (Part 3)

As we have been discussing, tree growth is impacted and controlled by three general factors:
Genetic predetermination;
Site impacts,
Nutrition quality/defects, which we’ll be discussing in this post.

Though Site Impacts and Nutrition quality/defects are linked, we’re discussing them separately because our experience shows that tree fertilization is either ignored or overdone.  Both have consequences that produce negatives in a tree… and these negatives result in corrective pruning.
In urban and suburban landscapes, infertile soils and plant densities create stresses.  Add irrigation to the mix, and many landscape are nutrient deficient.  Many times, tree owners recognize the problem of deficient soils and attempt to create a solution without knowing proper fertilization methods. 
Often, homeowners or site managers practice direct “hand full of fertilizer” methodology… without thought to dosage or composition. This can cause more harm the benefit: Excessive nitrogen, for example, will stimulate long leggy growth; toxic amounts will kill leaves, twigs and often whole sections of plants.  Whether too much fertilizer or too little, the responses of the trees will demand corrective pruning.
Woody plants (like trees) grow best in a slow release, year-long nutrient exposure.  This will insure that your trees grow as intended.  Pruning will then be needed only to remove natural deadwood, crossing or interfering branches, or to free up window views or walkways.  
So – Long story short: proper fertilization not only keeps your trees healthy, it promotes proper growth which reduces pruning costs!  Spring is the perfect time to create a tree-care plan, so give us a call and we’ll make sure you’re making a better future for YOUR trees!