Your Mature Trees Deserve the Same Care and Attention You’d Give a Cherished Family Member

As property owners, we often take our mature trees for granted, admiring their beauty and enjoying their shade without considering the specialized care these aging giants require. Just as we as humans slow down in our older age, your “legacy trees” are at a stage where they are growing slower than they did in their younger years. They also tend to be sensitive to their environment and may not recover as easily as young trees from damage. Understanding these unique needs is crucial for preserving these valuable landscape assets for years to come.

The Unique Challenges of Mature Tree Care

As trees mature, they direct more of their energy toward the maintenance of living tissue and less energy to lengthening limbs and roots or expanding girth, explains David Mercker, Ph.D., an extension forester at the University of Tennessee. This fundamental shift means that “Old trees aren’t focused on growth; they are focused on survival.” This survival mode makes mature trees more vulnerable to environmental stresses and less capable of recovering from damage or disease.

Mature trees are particularly susceptible to pruning damage since they are slower to recover. Additionally, mature trees can suffer from disease, pests, and environmental stress, making regular monitoring and professional care essential components of their maintenance.

Essential Care Practices for Older Trees

Proper Pruning Techniques

This is why it’s so important that mature tree care includes PROPER pruning. That being said, pruning is a really important service for older trees as it involves removing diseased, decaying, or dead branches from the tree. Mature trees need to be pruned regularly to remove dead or diseased wood and to remove excessive weight from the ends of branches. The process called “end-weight reduction” will reduce the likelihood of branch breakage and hazards.

However, it’s crucial to avoid harmful practices. Whatever you do, avoid “topping” your tree—this harmful practice ruins the tree’s natural structure, starves the tree by removing a high percentage of food-producing leaves, creates openings for disease, and initiates the tree’s eventual demise. Professional arborists understand these nuances and can provide the specialized care mature trees require.

Watering Considerations

Proper hydration is critical for mature trees, especially during dry periods. Even mature trees may need one or two good soakings a month during the hot, dry season. The need for summer watering of mature trees is becoming more frequent as our summers become warmer and drier. Unlike young trees which require weekly watering, mature trees should only be watered once a month. If you’ve had heavy rains during the month you can skip watering your mature tree that month.

When watering, water slowly and throughout the root zone – not at the trunk. This approach ensures that water reaches the far-reaching root systems that support these large trees while preventing trunk rot and fungal issues.

Soil and Root Zone Management

A 2-4″ thick layer of wood bark mulch around a tree makes all the difference in the world. Mulch helps to suppress weeds, maintains soil moisture, and provides nutrients to the tree. There is nothing better you can do for a mature tree than mulch. However, proper application is key: the mulch should be in a donut shape with a hole in the center so that the mulch does not come within a hands-width distance from the trunk. Mulch piled around the base of the tree will lead to decay.

Removing grass beneath the tree canopy redirects much-needed resources toward the tree, helping it thrive in its old age. This practice eliminates competition for water and nutrients, allowing the mature tree to focus its limited energy on essential functions.

Professional Services for Mature Trees

For Suffolk County residents dealing with mature tree challenges, professional services become increasingly important. Whether you need routine maintenance or emergency assistance, finding a qualified tree service brightwaters provider can make the difference between preserving a valuable tree and facing costly removal.

Another valuable service for mature trees is deep root fertilization. Deep root fertilization is a blend of essential nutrients that help to restore soil health. These are some of the elements found naturally in forest soil, which residential landscapes tend to lack. This service can significantly improve the health and longevity of aging trees.

When to Call the Professionals

Scheduling regular tree inspections to catch problems early. When problems do arise, respond quickly to minimize the damage that may leave your trees struggling. Professional arborists can identify issues that untrained eyes might miss, including weak branch attachments and periodically check your tree for safety.

Construction damage is one of the leading causes of death for mature trees. Because a tree’s critical root zone extends to or past their canopy tree, construction on one side of the yard (addition, a deck, etc) can kill a tree on the other side of the yard. Professional consultation before any construction project can save valuable mature trees.

The Value of Preservation

As a tree grows larger it provides more benefits. That makes mature trees worth attention and care. These benefits include increased property values, enhanced energy efficiency through shade, improved air quality, and significant aesthetic appeal. Caring for the largest trees costs as little as $13 per year, per tree. And, each tree returns an average of $65 in energy savings, cleaner air, better managed stormwater, extended life of streets, and higher property values.

For property owners in Suffolk County, working with experienced professionals like Miguel’s Tree Service ensures that mature trees receive the specialized care they deserve. Miguel’s Tree Service is a locally-owned and operated tree company dedicated to delivering exceptional tree care services in Suffolk County, NY. With 15 years of experience in the industry, we have earned a reputation for our expertise, professionalism, and commitment to customer satisfaction.

Mature tree care requires a delicate balance of knowledge, experience, and proper techniques. By understanding the unique needs of aging trees and working with qualified professionals, property owners can preserve these valuable landscape assets for future generations while maintaining the safety and beauty of their properties.