Some of the most popular shade trees are oaks, maples, ashes, lindens, and elms.
Things to look for when choosing a shade tree include deciduousness, coverage, longevity, and the ability of the roots to damage foundations.The choice of trees and their placement in the landscape is now guided somewhat more by matters of taste and design.
Shade trees can enhance the privacy of a garden by obstructing the view. A disadvantage is that in cool climates, an abundance of shade trees may lead to a dank environment in any nearby buildings or gardens.
Shade trees must not be planted near chimneys as flying fire sparks can ignite tree branches causing rapidly expanding fires.
Flowering trees offer many of the advantages of shade trees plus the added benefit of beautiful colour and fragrance. The brilliant pink, white or red blossoms of a Crab Apple or the delicate pink of a Flowering Cherry in bloom can add colour and life to your yard.
FERTILIZING TREES
Fertilizer ‘spikes’ can be hammered into the soil under the tree following the directions on the label. Fertilizer Tree Spikes for shade trees, evergreens and fruit trees are very effective and easy to use.Liquid fertilizer can be applied through a root-feeding device attached to the garden hose. This is also a good way to deep-water the tree roots.
Calculate the amount of dry fertilizer required and apply it to the surface uniformly over the tree root zone and then water the area well to move the nutrients into the soil. The zone of actively absorbing roots begins beyond the drip line of the tree and extends one half to two-thirds the distance between the drip line and the trunk. Be careful when applying dry fertilizer to trees that are growing in the lawn - the quantity of fertilizer recommended for the tree may injure the grass under the tree.
PRUNING TREES
Pruning is an arboricultural practice involving the selective removal of parts of a plant. This practice usually entails removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, or otherwise unwanted tissue from a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or directing growth), improving or maintaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for transplant, and both harvesting and increasing the yield or quality of flowers and fruits. Arborists, orchardists, and gardeners use tools designed for the purpose, such as pruning shears, loppers and chainsaw. In nature, meteorological conditions such as wind, snow or seawater mist can cause natural "pruning" which is called abscission.Generally, the best time to prune established deciduous trees is in summer, especially if cuts over 4 cm. in diameter must be made. At this time the cambium tissue is active and healing can immediately take place. If plants are pruned during the winter months, the wound is left exposed to disease or fungi and bleeding can take place for a longer period of time. Trees that bleed profusely are Maple, Walnut, Birch, Magnolia, Elm and Mulberry.
As the tree grows, routine pruning will ensure the natural symmetrical shape of the tree. As a general rule, keep the interior of trees open to allow good air circulation and remove dead, diseased, broken and interfering branches.
Evergreens >