Essential Tree FAQs for Every Homeowner
If you own property or have decisions to make about a rental property, you may be wondering what is important to know about trees or whether it's a good idea to have trees on your property in the first place. Here are 15 essential tree FAQs that many homeowners have about trees.
1. Is it worth having trees on your property?
One of the first questions that many people ask about trees is whether they're worth having in the first place. For many homeowners, a plant that could potentially damage the property is the last thing they want around. You may wonder why you should risk having trees at all.
When you consider the assets of trees, you are likely to decide to keep them around. Trees provide a number of valuable assets to your property. It is difficult to replace them in curb appeal, benefits to wildlife, and cooling. Whether you have trees now or not, you will probably decide that it is best to have a couple of well-chosen trees on your property.
2. How do I choose the best trees for my property?
Which are the best trees for your property depends on a number of factors, including your climate, personal preferences, and budget. It is wise to choose a team of certified arborists to help you choose the best trees for your property. Making the wrong choice can have significant consequences down the road.
3. Is tree trimming and pruning really important?
If you've never had the trees on your property trimmed or pruned and they've never fallen down, you may be wondering whether these expenses are really necessary. After all, trees in the forest are never trimmed or pruned and they seem to do just fine.
The fact is that trees in the forest fall down all the time, often causing a lot of damage to whatever is beneath. Unless you want your yard to be as filled with broken branches and dead trees as the forest, pruning and trimming matter.
4. How can I tell if a tree is dead?
One of the biggest questions most homeowners have about the trees on their property is how to tell whether they are in good health or whether they are diseased. A dead tree or a tree that is dying is a time bomb, just waiting for wind or gravity to pull it down.
Therefore, you want to eliminate dead and dying trees as soon as possible. You can tell if a tree is dying by looking for the following two signs:
- Dead growth when the tree would normally be growing. Note the dormancy periods for the species of trees on your property so that you know when they should appear dead in the winter and when they should have new growth in the spring. If you see trees or branches that aren't growing when they ought to be, it's a sign that that part of the tree is dying.
- Insect infestations. It is perfectly natural for all kinds of insects to live on trees, but if you see large infestations of termites, ants, beetles, or other insects that feed on dead wood, your tree probably is not in the best health.
5. What should I look for when choosing a tree care company?
Very few homeowners can take care of their own tree care without the occasional help of a professional that has the know-how and specialized equipment. You'll likely be seeking out a tree care company at some point.
The best tree care companies have arborists on staff who understand how to care for a tree. The company will have extensive experience in your area, caring for the kinds of trees that are on your property. They will not hesitate to teach you about your trees and give you lots of helpful tips and recommendations.
6. Is it worth getting an arborist?
Tree companies that have arborists on staff may charge a bit more than your neighbor down the block with a chainsaw, but it is probably in your best interest to pay a bit extra for the arborist. Arborists receive extensive education in caring for all kinds of trees. When it comes to pruning trees, every cut matters. You want an arborist who knows how to direct your tree's growth to keep it healthy and looking its best.
7. Does the size of trees matter?
How big a tree will ultimately grow is one of the first things that you should consider when choosing the species of tree that you want to plant. Trees that grow too big for a space will need aggressive pruning, which will cost you more in tree trimming and also is not good for the tree.
It is much better to choose a tree that will grow into the space you have for it. If you have trees on your property that are a good size now but belong to a species that will grow very large, especially if the species is also fast-growing, it may be best to take them out now while they're still small.
8. Do trees grow at different speeds?
Many people think about a given tree’s eventual size when selecting it, but they may not take into consideration how long the tree will take to get to that size. If you have to wait for ten years for a tree to fill out a spot you want for privacy you’ll wish you chose another species.
On the other hand, trees that grow more slowly may need to be trimmed less often to maintain their shape. Know what you want to do with a tree and how fast it grows to decide whether to plant or keep it.
9. Can I choose trees that won't fall down?
Nobody wants to plant a tree that has a high probability of falling down. However, what is important in structural integrity to one homeowner may not be the same to another.
Some trees are very resistant to wind but may fall if their roots are wet for too long. Others may be able to hold up to flooding with no problem but will go down in a wind. Choose the right kind of structural Integrity for the environmental needs of your area.
10. Can trees really cool the environment?
Not only do trees provide pleasant shade, making your yard more comfortable, but the shade they provide can also do a lot to bring down your home's electricity bills in the summer if the trees shade your roof.
Trees continuously release moisture and cool the air around them, which could keep an area as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in the summertime. This is true whether you live in a suburban neighborhood or on a city block.
11. Do trees improve my home’s curb appeal?
No matter what else you put into your garden and how much money you spend on landscaping, there just doesn't seem to be anything quite like the appeal of trees. Removing the trees on your property or not planting them in the first place will be a strike to your curb appeal and resulting property value.
12. How do I plant trees that provide benefits to wildlife?
Few garden features provide as many benefits to local wildlife as trees. Birds and squirrels are dependent upon them for nesting. They provide a micro ecosystem that is essential for all kinds of wildlife.
Native trees offer more benefits to wildlife than non-native trees. Some trees have a special relationship with particular birds or butterflies that can help a threatened species.
Research the needs of animals you'd like to attract to help you choose the right trees. A local arborist will be able to help you make an educated decision to choose a tree that is both beneficial to wildlife and a great choice for your yard.
13. How do I know how old my trees are?
Unfortunately, the only sure way of knowing how old your trees are is to cut them down and look at the rings. However, you can take a guess at how old your tree might be by considering the species and size.
Some types of tree, such as a live oak or olive, take a very long time to achieve a large size. Therefore, if you have a very large live oak or olive tree on your property, there is a good chance that it is quite old, possibly even hundreds of years old.
14. What are pruning and trimming?
Pruning shapes a tree and enables it to grow in the most healthy way possible, preventing branches from crowding each other out and causing excessive fallen branches. It can also shape a tree to go in the most desirable way.
Trimming keeps the tree in good shape, preventing dying branches from falling by cutting them off before they do. Together, regular pruning and trimming keep a tree healthy and prevent damage from Fallen branches.
15. Where should I plant a tree?
If your property doesn't have many trees and you're considering adding a new one, choosing the right location can be very challenging. After all, there aren't many options for moving the tree down the road. Here are a few points to help you choose a good location for most trees:
- Make sure it won't interfere with anything as it grows. This includes power lines, structures, fences, and the reach of other growing trees.
- Block sun wisely. Your new tree will block a fair amount of sun as it ages, so make sure you put that shade somewhere you want it, like over the patio, instead of somewhere you don't, like in the middle of your grassy lawn.
- Think about long-distance aesthetics. Step back from where you are considering planting the tree and consider what it will look like when it's grown and how it will affect the look of the landscape.
Enjoy Your Trees
Your trees can add a lot of value to your property, both when the property is sold and in quality of life for you and local wildlife. There are many more tree FAQs and questions that are not listed here, feel free to contact us. Take great care of your trees by choosing the qualified arborists at Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscape Company.