Tree Maintenance 

Healthy trees need regular care and attention to grow strong and look attractive in any garden. Below are practical tree care tips to keep trees thriving year-round.

A Spring Clean

In spring, deadwooding, fertilising, and mulching are essential tree maintenance tasks that support healthy growth and keep the tree vigorous.

Inspection

During winter, trees can be damaged by extreme weather, so regular inspection is important. Checking structural integrity and looking for signs such as fungal fruiting bodies or canker lesions helps identify problems early.

Coming into Leaf

In late winter and early spring, it is worth checking whether trees are coming into leaf and showing bud swell. Poor or uneven bud development can indicate that a tree is stressed, struggling, or even dying.

Disease and Pests

Familiarising yourself with common tree pests and diseases makes regular inspections more effective. Professional advice can help with initial identification and provide intervention if something serious appears to be affecting a tree.

Mulch

Mulch helps suppress weeds and retain soil moisture around trees, improving overall tree health. However, mulch should never be piled against the trunk, as constant moisture at the base can encourage harmful fungal growth and decay.

Pruning

The ideal time to prune ornamental trees is during winter and early spring, when the tree’s system is becoming active. Removing damaged or dead branches in spring encourages new growth for late spring and summer. Many ornamental trees respond particularly well to careful, professional pruning.

Fertilising

A good-quality, slow-release fertiliser supports strong root development, keeps trees healthy, and boosts their natural defences against pests and disease.
Including fertilising as a regular part of a gardening routine helps maintain long-term tree health.

Watering

Consistent watering is essential for tree care, not only in the summer months. Winter can also be very dry, and water-repellent soil may prevent adequate moisture from reaching the roots, so monitoring soil conditions year-round is important.

Planting

Spring is an excellent time to plant new trees and enhance a garden's appearance and biodiversity. Expert guidance can help select suitable species and choose the perfect planting spot for long-term success.