Tree Care Instructions

You are now part of a growing number of citizens helping to create a cooler and greener future for The City Beautiful. By following these instructions, you will be able to give your tree a long, healthy life.

Please note: Trees that die due to neglect will be not replaced.

Water

• Provide 10 gallons of water daily.
• Water your tree following the schedule below. Increase frequency during dry periods.
  • 0-2 months: Every day
  • 2-6 months: 3 x times per week
  • 6-12 months: 2 x per week
  • 12-18 months: 1 x per week
• Don’t let the soil around your tree dry out.
• Fill the ring of soil around your tree until the water doesn’t drain immediately. Approximately five gallons per one inch caliper.
• Maintain the soil ring around your tree for six months
• Keep the soil and mulch away from the trunk of the tree to ensure you are watering the roots.
• Installing a dedicated bubbler is preferred. You can also use a tree watering bag which can be found and purchased online.
• Sprinklers alone will not provide enough water.

Stake

• Stakes are not always necessary and are only recommended in certain cases.
• If your tree was staked, please remove these completely between six months to a year, maximum.
• Don’t put rope or wires around the trunk or branches; they will injure the bark.

Fertilize

• Wait three months after planting to fertilize.
• Use a slow release fertilizer at a rate of 1/4 – 1/2 lbs per inch of trunk diameter evenly in the drip line.
• Don’t use a fertilizer with a weed killer near the drip line.

Prune

• Pruning is not recommended until your tree has been planted for one year.
• Encourage a single, central trunk.
• Yearly heavy pruning of Crape Myrtles should NEVER be done.
• Remove branches that cross over and touch other branches or the trunk.
• Prune off the sprouts from the trunk.
• When removing a branch, leave the branch collar (the swelling at the base of a branch) attached to the trunk.
• Don’t use a string trimmer or lawn mower to remove sprouts. Machinery can damage the trunk. Damage to trunk can kill the tree.

Mulch

• Using mulch (pine bark or pine straw) around your tree will retain moisture, reduce weeds, and avoid damage to the trunk.
• Don’t apply more than a two inch thickness of mulch. You must keep mulch two to four inches away from the base of the tree.
• Keep grass and weeds at least two feet away from the tree by maintaining the mulched area.
• The larger the mulch ring the better for the tree. The minimum is two to three feet.

Tree Trimming or Removal

Unfortunately, there are times when a tree must be removed due to its health or safety implications. For help from the city with tree trimming and removal, please see how to Apply for a Tree Removal Permit. If you have any questions or concerns regarding tree removal or trimming, please call the Parks Division at 407.246.2514.