1. Do not top trees. Tree heights can be lowered by proper crown reduction that doesn’t stimulate watersprout production.
2. When a tree is young, select one or the other of the competing upright branches to be the main branch and cut the other off.
3. Remove branches that cross and rub in order to prevent bark wounds.
4. Monitor for insects and diseases and treat
appropriately if they are found.
5. Do not use anything to cover pruning cuts or wounds– trees seal their own wounds.
6. Cut broken branches off at the branch bark collar.
7. Spray the lawn with herbicides that will not damage trees.
8. Mulch around the tree to avoid hitting the tree trunk with lawn or edging equipment and to protect surface roots.
9. Dig around roots whenever possible but when not, make a clean pruning cut on the tree side of the root.
10. Know how big a tree will grow (height and width) and space accordingly away from houses and other obstacles.
11. Insert a nail or screw into your tree to which a wire or line can be attached. The tree will seal around the small wound made by the nail or screw.
12. Cut branches back to laterals so you don’t leave stubs to which the branches will die back.
13. Do not make flush cuts. Cut on the outside of the branch bark collar.
14. Stakes generally aren’t needed on small residential trees, but if they are, remove them after one year to avoid any damage.
15. Do not wrap the trunk with anything except a wide wire cage if animals are a problem.
16. Do not put mulch in contact with the trunk, and then pile mulch only 2 to 3 inches over the roots.
17. Do not put any type of fabric or plastic material under your mulch.
18. Do not stack items atop the roots; it causes soil compaction.
19. Take the ball roping off around the tree trunk. If the tree is in a container, remove the container before planting.
20. Divert water from the roots of trees that don’t like wet soil, but when you water, water deeply to encourage deep root growth.
21. Remove the top horizontal round of wire from the basket. It is not necessary to remove the entire basket.
22 Remove the burlap, regardless of type, from atop the ball and down several inches on the ball side. It is not necessary to remove all the burlap.
23. Dig the hole at least twice as wide as the root system to encourage lateral root growth out of the root ball. Do not amend backfill for individual tree holes. Only amend if the entire planting area can be equally amended.
24. Dig your hole only as deep as the root system and do not put gravel in the bottom of the planting hole unless you install a drain to actively pull extra water away.