Beautiful, healthy trees are a great way to make any property look its best. But what happens when you plant a tree, and it simply refuses to grow? While you may not know it, you could actually be interfering with your tree’s ability to reach its full potential. In this article, we will provide you with five top ways that you can make your trees grow faster. Make sure to contact our commercial landscaping experts at Stay Green for your complete tree care needs!
As a landscaper and gardening enthusiast I’m often asked “how can I help my tree grow taller and stronger?”. Having healthy thriving trees in your yard not only looks great but provides numerous benefits like cleaner air, wildlife habitat, and shade. The good news is there are several easy, effective ways you can help your trees reach their maximum growth potential. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share key strategies based on the latest arboricultural research and my own experience for successfully growing trees.
Choose the Right Species
The first step is selecting the right tree species for your location. Consider factors like soil type, sunlight availability, climate, and mature size. Fast-growing popular picks like red maple, silver maple, willow, poplar, gingko, and alder tend to thrive in various conditions and maximize growth rate. Check with local nurseries on recommendations for species suited to your specific environment. Matching the tree to your site sets it up for success.
Prepare the Soil
One of the most vital factors influencing tree growth is soil quality. Trees absorb essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium through their roots. Conducting a soil test can reveal pH levels and nutrient content to identify any amendments needed.
Ideally, soil for trees should be slightly acidic with a pH between 6.0-7.0. Adding organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure enriches the soil with nutrients for growth. Incorporating a balanced slow-release fertilizer when planting further augments nutrient availability.
Proper drainage is also key, so amend clay soils with compost or sand. Eliminating compacted soil allows roots to spread unimpeded. Dig at least 3 feet out from the trunk when planting to give ample room for the root system to expand.
Water New Trees Regularly
Adequate water, especially for newly planted trees, is imperative to growth. Young trees should be watered weekly their first summer to develop a healthy root system Deep water within the root zone, not just surface watering. Continue supplemental water during dry periods
Installing drip irrigation or using a deep root watering system provides sub-surface moisture directly to the roots. Monitor soil moisture levels and water when the top few inches become dry. Saturated soil deprives roots of oxygen. Proper watering optimizes growth.
Provide Full Sunlight
Maximizing sunlight exposure fuels growth through photosynthesis. Select a planting spot providing full sun for at least 6 hours daily, factoring in how surrounding trees/buildings may eventually shade the area. Insufficient sunlight slows growth.
If the only suitable site has partial shade, choose an appropriate species like beech, dogwood or holly over sun-lovers like oak and maple. Give trees ample space to reach their mature height and spread. Eliminate competing vegetation around the tree.
Use Organic Root Stimulator
Applying natural root stimulator when planting is an easy way to boost establishment and growth. Root stimulators contain seaweed, humic acids, microbes and natural hormones that nourish roots, promote branching, and stimulate formation of root hairs for better nutrient uptake. This equates to vigorous top growth.
I also recommend mixing a small amount of biochar into the backfill soil at planting time. Biochar increases moisture retention, beneficial microbe activity, and nutrient availability for sustained release. It’s a simple way to create a fertile root zone.
Add Mulch Around the Tree
Maintaining 2-4 inches of organic mulch around the base of the tree provides multiple growth benefits. It conserves moisture, insulates roots, suppresses weeds/grass that compete for water and nutrients, and as it decomposes releases additional nutrients.
Natural choices like shredded bark, leaves, compost or wood chips make excellent mulch. Keep it replenished annually. Avoid piling mulch against the trunk which can cause moisture issues. Adequate mulch circles help trees flourish.
Protect Trunk from Damage
A young tree’s thin bark is easily injured by nicks, cuts and scrapes which open it up to insect/disease problems. Use extreme care when weed whacking or mowing around trees. Even minor damage can hinder growth.
Wrapping the trunk in plastic guards or rubber tubing prevents damage from lawn equipment. Check ties/guards annually to ensure they aren’t girdling the bark as the trunk expands. Keep trees healthy and vigorous through prevention.
Prune Properly and Timely
Appropriate pruning is vital for proper tree structure and healthy growth. Remove dead/damaged branches promptly, along with rubbing/crossing branches which can wound the trunk. Don’t remove more than 25% of living branches at one time. Pruning seals should be applied to cuts over 1 inch.
The best time to prune most species is during dormancy in late winter. Exception is spring-blooming trees which should be pruned immediately after flowering. Proper pruning eliminates problems and ensures trees grow correctly.
Control Pests
Leaf chewing insects, boring pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies sap tree vigor, resulting in reduced growth. Keep trees free of problems through preventive care like horticultural oils/insecticidal soaps, proper sanitation methods and adding nutrients if deficient.
Spotting issues early allows for effective treatment before major damage occurs. Inspect trees routinely, especially after events like storms, unusual weather or drought stress. A vigilant pest management program keeps trees robust and resilient.
Provide Wind Protection
Wind exposure causes newly planted trees stress, desiccates foliage and may even topple them in storms if roots are not sufficiently established. Install temporary windscreens, wrap trunks and stake for support the first year or two after planting on windy sites.
A more permanent windbreak like a stone wall, solid fencing or tight evergreen hedge can reduce wind tunnel effects across open areas. Eliminating wind whipped conditions enables unimpeded growth.
Consult an Arborist
There’s no substitute for an arborist’s expert knowledge on properly planting and caring for trees. Licensed arborists have the specialized skills to assess trees, diagnose issues, recommend treatment options, and optimize growing conditions through techniques like fertilization, cabling/bracing and air spading.
Seeking advice from a professional arborist ensures you avoid mistakes and get trees off to a strong start. Ongoing arborist consultation maintains tree vigor and longevity. Their input gives trees the best advantage.
Be Patient
Remember that trees are slow growing, long living organisms. Even fast growing species may only produce a few feet of new growth annually when young. Don’t expect a newly planted sapling to reach its mature size overnight.
With ongoing proper care and favorable conditions, trees will flourish over time. Avoid excessive pruning or over-manipulating the tree. Allow trees time to establish naturally and reach their genetic potential. Patience coupled with best practices will be rewarded.
The Top 4 Ways to Make Your Trees Grow Faster
- Be Careful with Lawn Care: One of the advantages of hiring a professional landscaping service like Stay Green is that we know how to provide lawn care that’s safe for your trees and your entire property. However, if you are performing lawn care on your own, or hiring an amateur to take care of your property, you could be doing your trees a disservice. Tree bark is very sensitive, and anytime you hit a tree, you are essentially injuring it. Whether it’s because of your lawnmower, your weed whacker, or general pruning, even small nicks and scrapes to a tree can have a major effect on its long-term health. If you want your trees to grow taller faster, be careful when performing lawn care, or call Stay Green for professional landscape maintenance. Our landscaping professionals have the tools and experience needed to ensure that your trees are growing at a healthy and steady pace.
- Make Sure Your Trees Have Space: Trees need space to reach their full potential. If you want a tree to really grow and thrive, you should dig about three feet out from the trunk during planting. This way, the other trees around that one can’t steal the nutrients the roots need to grow. You should also mulch your tree in the beginning, to create a kind of protective boundary around it. While we understand that the idea of densely populated trees may be tempting for the shade and aesthetics, the three feet rule is key if you want your trees to grow tall and live for a long time.
- Make Sure Youre Watering Enough: Making sure that you are providing your tree with the water it needs is essential for growth. Supplemental water at least 1-2 times a week is important, especially at seasons of minimum rainfall. You also want to make sure that you are not overwatering your tree. Giving your tree excess water may hinder your tree from breathing properly. Some signs to look out for are fragile leaves, pale or yellow-looking tree growth, or a tree base that is constantly wet.
- Watch the Roots: Nothing is more important to maintaining a healthy tree than ensuring that the tree has healthy roots. Your tree root systems should be surrounded by good soil, and in the beginning, mulch to encourage growth. You can also use a fertilizer with a root stimulator to help. If your tree roots are not pulling in water, it may be because the soil around the tree is hard or poor quality. Stir in compost and mulched leaves, and if necessary, put down fresh soil to help the roots take in water.
5 Reasons Your Fruit Trees AREN’T GROWING [And How To FIX It]
FAQ
How do you stimulate tree growth?
- Be Careful When Selecting The Species of The Tree. …
- Stick to Specific Planting Techniques. …
- Water on Time. …
- Use a Good Fertilizer. …
- Regularly Prune and Trim Your Trees. …
- Inspect for Pests and Diseases. …
- Provide The Tree With Enough Sunlight.
What can I give my tree to help it grow?
How do you revive a struggling tree?
- Ensure your tree gets the right amount of water.
- Add organic mulch (correctly!) around the tree.
- Professionally prune to remove specific branches.
- Fertilize and add soil amendments.
- Treat the tree for any insect infestation or diseases.
How to encourage new growth on a tree?
Notching is a simple, old school trick that stimulates a branch to grow. Use it while training young (2 – 4 year old), deciduous fruit trees to fill any empty spaces that would ideally, be fruitfully filled with a branch.