City of Hickory Treasured Trees

Landscape Services Department, PO Box 398, 1441 9th Ave NE, Hickory, North Carolina 28603
phone: 828-323-7500        email: TTeague@ci.hickory.nc.us

Tree Care Tips

1. Test Soil —Have the soil tested  to see what nutrients are needed before fertilizing. Do not over fertilize. Excessive tree growth requires more water and can lead to future problems.
2. Select the Right Tree — Avoid planting trees that are prone to problems. Species that are prone to limb breakage and that can have decay problems include Silver Maple, Box Elder, Bradford Pear and Willows.
3. Plant in the Right Place —Make tree selections based on fully mature height and width. Do not plant tall canopy trees under utility lines or close to buildings.
4. Avoid Compacting Surrounding Soil — Keep the leaves and needles healthy on your tree. This is what manufactures food. Roots take up water and essential minerals so avoid compacting the soil around your trees. 
5. Mulch Properly — Mulch the area surrounding your tree with 2-4 inches of mulch. Take care not to place mulch against the tree trunk. Mulch will protect the trunk from mowers and weed eaters. It will also prevent soil compaction and help maintain soil moisture. Less water is needed if areas around trees are mulched and surrounding lawn areas are reduced.
6. Remove Vines — Keep vines off trees. They add extra weight to the limbs and can hide areas of decay on the trunk.
7. Inspect Periodically — Sign of problems include dead or dying branches, mushrooms or conks on the trunk or at the base of the tree, cracks or cavities.
8. Plan Ahead for Construction — When any type of construction activity is going to be performed near trees there are several steps to take to ensure the tree does not suffer from damage.
   

• Plan for growth. If young trees are to be kept on site, be sure to leave enough room for mature size.
• Fence off critical root zone area around the tree. This is determined by calculating 1.5 times the diameter of the tree. A 20-inch tree would   need a 30-foot area of no disturbance. A minimum of 6 feet should be retained   around trees, no matter how small the diameter.
• Prohibit parking, dumping or storage of materials inside the fencing.
• Do not change the grade of soil around existing trees. Removal of soil results in loss of roots and additional soil can smother the roots.
  
• Do not trench near trees. This severs roots, which can weaken or kill the tree. Reroute utilities to avoid the root zone, which extends out past the canopy of the tree. If trenching does sever roots, be sure to prune roots to remove jagged ends. Keep roots moist by filling trench with dirt as soon as possible or covering with wet burlap if trench will be open for long periods. Irrigation lines should not be installed within 5 feet of trees.

CLICK HERE to learn lots more about TREE CARE from the
International Society of Arboriculture!