Keeping young trees alive

Young trees require a lot of attention to fully blossom each year, and the same applies to older trees, of course. They need regular watering and care to prevent them from dying due to disease and pests. But how exactly do you ensure that such a tree blooms beautifully every year, and what do you need for it? Fortunately, we are here to explain this to you precisely.

Author: Sophie Klifman

The key steps

Water, protection, and compost. Those are the three most important things to consider when taking care of a tree. A tree needs at least 25 liters of water per week, which is approximately equivalent to 38.1 mm of precipitation. Turn on the garden hose and aim it at the tree for about half an hour! Another handy tip is to place a bucket with holes in the bottom and fill it five days a week. For tree protection, it is important to keep lawnmowers and wild animals away. If necessary, you can also install a deer fence. Compost every season to keep the soil moist and fight weeds. Do not use volcanic compost; instead, you can use leaf compost or shredded bark. To monitor the moisture, you can use a soil moisture sensor. Soil moisture sensors assist in measuring, monitoring, and maintaining trees and plants. The sensor measures the soil moisture percentage and consumes very little energy; the battery can last up to 10 years!

How should I prune?

Pruning a tree is very important but also quite challenging. There are a few things you need to know. When pruning to a main stem or another branch, avoid making a flush cut. Instead, make a cut outside the raised branch collar. The collar contains chemicals that combat pathogens and help the tree form wound wood. Always prune to a bud lateral branch or main stem. And never remove more than a quarter of the living crown of a tree at once. If you need to remove more, do it over the course of several years. This way, you keep the tree beautiful and strong!

Water and moisture supply for trees

If a tree doesn’t receive enough water, it will dry out, but if it gets too much water, the roots will rot. Therefore, it is important to provide sufficient water without going overboard. When it’s hot, a tree naturally needs more water than usual. And a tree that is in full sun, as expected, requires more water than a tree in the shade. If there is grass, shrubs, or other plants close to the tree, the tree also needs a bit more water as all the roots absorb the water. With the soil moisture sensor from ConnectedGreen, you can precisely determine when more or less water is needed. These sensors are perfect for tree and plant enthusiasts, landscapers, municipalities, gardeners, nurseries, and water authorities.