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2012 HOME & GARDEN MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com May 25, 2012
18
tree looks unnatural. He said if a tree needs
to be cut back, the city will have it done in
a manner that maintains the natural shape of
the tree.
For homeowners, Jackson said pruning
can be as simple as taking out the dead areas
with a pruning saw. Also, remove any small
limbs that are growing downward.
One thing Jackson would like to see is
for homeowners to plant more shade trees.
Smaller decorative and exotic trees are very
attractive, but they don’t often get large
enough to have any shading benefit.
A tree that is large enough to
provide shade can cool a home and
ultimately lower air-conditioning
costs on hot summer days.
On the other hand, a
common mistake made
when planting a tree that will
continue togrowfor years is to
not realize how large that tree
may be at maturity. Jackson
said he often sees trees that
have been planted too close
to fences or even homes. As
they grow to maturity, the
trees will cause numerous
issues for the homeowner.
The city of Lincoln typically plants trees
in the spring. However, this is done knowing
the city is going to make a solid commitment
to watering daily.
For homeowners who work full-time jobs
and maintain hectic schedules, this may be a
difficult task. In those cases, the best time of
the year to plant could be in the fall.
Jackson said trees planted in the fall
should still be given abundant water, but daily
watering can be skipped or cut back to three
to four times a week. Mathon said to expect to
water until the time when temperatures reach
freezing.
Once a tree is in the ground, with a watering
routine established, the next step to
a healthy tree is to make sure it is
well fed.
Jackson said a mistake often
made by homeowners is the
placement of tree fertilizer
stakes. Before you pound
that fertilizer stake down
into the ground, look up
andobserve the canopyof
the tree. The root system
is going to be spread
out in a very similar
fashion to the canopy.
The nutrients need to be
placed in the vicinity of
root growth. Walk away
from the trunk until you
reach the limb span edge, and then drive your
spikes. This rule is true for young and mature
trees. Spikes should be placed farther from
the trunk each time the tree is fertilized.
Keeping your trees beautiful and healthy
adds to the value of your home. Realtors often
note “tree-shaded lot” or “abundant trees”
in their listings. Jackson said a good rule of
thumb is that each shade tree on your lot will
increase the value of your property by $1,500.
Note: Jackson said homeowners can plant
any species of tree they wish on their own
property. There is, however, a list of approved
trees that will be planted on city property. To
viewthelistoftreesthecityplants,visit thislink:
http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/
index.php?book_id=408&Itemid=81