How to Take Care of a Tree

Co-authored by Mike Garcia and Kyle Hall

Last Updated: November 6, 2023

Caring for a tree and watching it grow can be a rewarding experience. It's important to take care of your tree during its first few years so it establishes strong roots and grows to be green and healthy.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Watering

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Watering your tree right away will help settle the soil and mulch, and it will give the roots moisture they need to start growing. Don't soak the soil around your tree. Spraying it with a gardening hose for 30 seconds should give it enough water.^{[1]
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Keep the soil moist if your tree is less than 2 years old. Whenever the soil looks dry, water your tree with a garden hose for about 30 seconds. Young trees need lots of water so they can establish their roots in the soil. Don’t over water your tree though, or you could cause root rot. The soil should be moist, not soaking wet. ^{[2]
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- To check if the soil is moist enough, insert a garden trowel 2 inches (5.1 cm) into the soil and pull it out. Stick your finger down in the hole and to see if the soil feels moist. If it doesn’t, your tree needs to be watered.^{[3]
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Cut back on watering your tree after it's older than 2 years. After 2 years, the roots on your tree should be established and it won't need as much water to grow. If you live in an area that gets regular rainfall, you won't need to worry about watering your tree , unless it's a species that needs a lot of water. If you live in a dry climate, you may need to water your tree regularly to keep it healthy.^{[4]
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- Look up your species of tree online to find out specific watering recommendations.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Mulching

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Mulching a newly-planted tree is important because it insulates the roots from extreme temperatures and helps keep them moist. Mulch can also serve as a visual for where you shouldn't mow when you mow your lawn.^{[5]
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The exact size of the area you should clear depends on how big your tree is. For a smaller tree, clear a smaller area, and for a bigger tree, clear a bigger area. Use a rake or tiller to clear away the grass.^{[6]
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Wood chips or pieces of bark will work. Make sure the layer of mulch is at least 3 feet (0.91 m) in diameter.^{[7]
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This prevents the mulch from smothering your tree. The flare of the trunk shouldn't be covered with mulch.^{[8]
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Part 3

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Pruning

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Routinely pruning off dead branches will keep your tree looking healthy. Dead branches will be leafless, and the bark may be falling off them.
You want your tree to have as much leaf space as possible for its first few years so it can get more nutrients and develop strong roots. Only prune off dead or broken branches during the first 3 years of your tree’s life.
Try to prune your tree during the winter to encourage growth. Once a year, prune excessive or undesirable branches from your tree so there’s less competition for water and nutrients. When your tree starts to develop a shape, cut back branches that extend out of the lines of the shape you want.
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Avoid leaving stubs when you make cuts on your tree. Stubs can cause your tree to develop disease or pest problems. When you prune your tree, make your cut lines right where the branch collar ends and the branch begins. The branch collar is the raised, volcano-shaped section of the branch that’s connected to the rest of the tree.^{[9]
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- Avoid making cuts that are flush with your tree. Always cut outside of the branch collar.
Sprouts, also called suckers, are thin shoots that steal water and nutrients from the rest of the tree they’re growing off. Use sharp pruning shears to clip the sprouts off as close to the soil or trunk of your tree as you can. If there are sprouts that are too thick to cut with shears, use loppers to clip them off instead.^{[10]
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This will prevent branches from crossing each other and ruining the shape of your tree. Use pruning shears, loppers, or a hand saw to cut the branches off right outside the branch collar.^{[11]
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Expert Q&A

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How does a tree grow step by step?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

A tree moves from a seed into a sprout. The infancy stage after this is called seedling. After this, it reaches the teen years called a sapling then becomes an adult mature tree. Once it ages through this, a tree is in the elderly age of decline until it dies.

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How can we help trees?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

We can help by planting more trees. Also, using guards to protect trees from machines and even other animals can be helpful. Focus on using organic fertilizers and grow trees that are valuable or produce fruits.

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How often should you water your tree?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

During the dry season, it is ideal to water trees 2 or 3 times per week. After the first few months, change that to every 3 to 4 days.

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Choose a variety of tree that will do well with the weather conditions where you live.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Mike Garcia
Licensed Landscape Contractor

Expert Interview. 20 November 2020.}

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You should plant your tree in an area that has plenty of mycorrhizal fungi. Otherwise, your tree won't be able to take in all the minerals it needs from the soil.^{[13]
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Mike Garcia
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Expert Interview. 20 November 2020.}

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Regularly check your tree for signs of pests or diseases. If you discover an infestation, visit your local gardening center for advice or search online for suggestions.

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