Like children, young trees need basic care and guidance to develop into strong, long-lived specimens. Both benefit from nurturing and a sound foundation that can lead to a well structured and a productive, long life. Over my 30 years in the tree care industry, I’ve seen many problems in mature trees that could have been prevented with proper early care. It is recommended that trees have a visit by an ISA Certified Arborist within the first 3 years of growth. Many homeowners feel uncertain about tree care and often delay action.
“Train trees like kids” is a simple way to stress the importance of starting early. Just as we don’t wait to teach children good habits, young trees benefit from timely pruning, proper planting, and regular care within the first few years. Working with small trees is easier, safer, and more effective than trying to fix problems later. Many tasks are suitable for DIY enthusiasts. Doing nothing can often cause more harm than careful intervention.
If you have acquired a new property with established trees, set up a consultation as soon as possible so any hazards or liabilities can be identified, treated and resolved. Like home inspections, tree inspections provide invaluable information on urgent and non-urgent issues. Early attention is critical with trees. A Certified Arborist will identify what is growing, evaluate your tree health and safety, evaluated your irrigation systems and highlight any concerns about the overall landscape. How you use the yard will be different than the previous owner.
Today’s abundance of online advice can be overwhelming and sometimes misleading. That’s why proper tree selection and early professional guidance are so important—poor placement or overcrowding can lead to long-term issues and higher maintenance costs. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should understand what’s growing in your space, including when to prune and what problems to watch for. Basic care like proper watering is something done by the owner – do you know how much, how often or where to apply water?
Consulting an expert can help you learn essential practices such as structural pruning, correct planting, proper watering, fertilization, mulching, and pest management.
To find an arborist in your area, visit https://www.treesaregood.org/Find-an-Arborist
Maureen Sexsmith-West, ISA Certified Arborist PR4600A