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Tree Suckers

Professional Landscaping; Let’s Talk Tree Suckers

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Trees are your community’s largest asset and as such require consistent maintenance and upkeep by a professional landscaping company to ensure they remain an asset rather than becoming a liability! With that being said, a major part of that upkeep is the prevention and/or removal of tree suckers- a common ailment to trees that if left unaddressed can lead to tree death.

Tree suckers are small sprouts that a tree produces as a result to a variety of causes such as injury, pest infestation, drought, open wounds, and more! Trees produce these suckers as a way to continue their own lineage in the case that the main tree dies from one or many of these causes and as a way of multiplying the chance of sprout survival.

So what is the issue with allowing tree suckers? The issue with tree suckers is that these sprouts often take nutrients and water from the main tree and the older branches. Tree suckers are extremely fast growing and therefore sap away the energy of the tree and absorb a lot of the needed nutrients. If suckers are left to grow, the can become even more established and give the tree an overgrown and messy look that is more difficult to address.

The best way to address tree suckers is to prevent them. Prevention includes:

  • Keeping your trees in good health with regular maintenance and regular pruning as needed
  • Ensuring your trees are getting enough water to their root systems, increasing water in the warmer months
  • Avoiding over pruning so as not to cause injury to the tree

If you can not prevent tree suckers, removal of them is advised right away! Using a professional landscaping company, such as ELS Maintenance, for this removal is a great idea to ensure that they are removed correctly without causing more injury or stress to the tree.

CitrusTree

Arizona Landscaping; It’s Time to Fertilize Citrus Trees

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Temperatures are finally warming up and Spring is right around the corner! With this change in seasons comes changes in the landscape of your HOA community or commercial property and it is important to properly prepare the plant and tree materials for the upcoming warmer weather.

January/February marks the kickoff to Spring here in Arizona and is the perfect time to begin fertilizing Citrus Trees in your landscape. Citrus Trees, like many fruit bearing tree species, are heavy feeders so it is important to their health and fruit bloom that they receive the proper fertilization and water prior to their full bloom. Amount of fertilizer recommended to use varies depending on size and age of the tree. When buying your fertilzier it is a good idea to refer to the back of the package to find proper amounts to use for your tree. We have also included a chart that details recommended amount by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension which you can access here.

Download Citrus Fertilization Chart

When it comes to applying the fertilizer to Citrus Trees, you can do it one of two ways. One way to go about this process is to purchase a spray fertilizer which you would spray directly on the leaves of the tree. The other option is to spread fertilizer on the ground near the tree. When applying fertilizer via the ground it is important to spread the fertilzier from the tree to the length of the canopy, avoiding placing fertilizer directly on or near the trunk of the tree.

Finally, due to the dry climate that we have here in the desert southwest it is crucial to the health of the trees to water them thoroughly following the application of fertilizer. This ensures that they get the water they need to utilize the fertilizer in a way that will promote bloom and growth.

ELS has an entire division dedicated to Arbor Care, complete with SLM certified arbor professionals. Request a bid for your next arbor project!

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