 Nothing adds more value to a landscape than large healthy trees. In this issue's 'Tip of the Month', we provide some information on how to care for and maintain healthy trees in your landscape.
Pruning: Knowing how and when to prune your trees is critical to their long term health. As a general rule, you should never prune more than a 1/4 of the tree's crown and avoid pruning branches that are greater than a 1/3 of the diameter of the main trunk. Most pruning should be done during the tree's winter dormancy just after the coldest part of the winter. You may also prune a tree during the summer months to help maintain the tree's size and slow its growth. If pruning during the summer, make sure to wait until the majority of new growth from spring has matured. If at all possible, avoid pruning your tree during the fall since molds and fungi are most active at this time.
For more information on tree pruning please visit the Arbor Day Foundation at:
http://www.arborday.org/trees/pruning
Fertilizing: Trees do not usually need regular fertilizing like many other types of plants. If the right tree is selected and is healthy, then the tree should do just fine without any fertilization. However, if the tree is not performing as expected, or is showing signs that it is not receiving enough nutrients, the best place to start is with a soil test. The test will let you know what nutrients your tree is lacking and which fertilizer to apply. The next step is to determine how much fertilizer to apply. Below is a link that will help you calculate the amount of fertilizer needed based upon the size of your tree.
Aggie Horticulture: Fertilizing Woody Ornamentals
 Pest & Diseases: Trees are most susceptible to pests and diseases when they are stressed. Improper pruning or unfavorable environmental conditions are two of the most common ways to stress a tree. Your best bet to avoiding any possible problems is to select the best tree for your site. Another important factor regarding diseases and pests is early detection. If you notice your tree showing any signs of stress, act quickly to determine the cause of the stress so you can begin the proper treatment. Below is a link that will help you select the best tree for your landscape.
Texas Tree Planting Guide
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New Territory is a master-planned community located on over 450 acres of parks, lakes, greenbelts, and recreation centers. The community offers over 4,000 private residences, schools, churches, and retail shopping in Fort Bend County, the third fastest-growing county in the United States.
Visit our website to learn more!
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 Keith brings 31 years of professional experience to Native Land Design. He moved to Austin in the mid 80's to be involved in the exciting, steady urban growth of central Texas. After falling in love with the region's natural environment Keith decided to make Austin his home for life.
Keith worked for two of the leading Texas landscape architecture and planning firms RVI Planning and TBG Partners for much of his career as a senior designer, project manager and construction administrator. His expansive knowledge of construction materials and methods and love for plants make him well suited to the landscape design-build industry. For several years Keith maintained a small design studio specializing in design development of planned residential communities; specifically the design of common use areas such as streetscapes, parklands, pedestrian rights-o-way and trail systems, storm water collection and community amenity centers.
Keith received his Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University and worked in Baton Rouge for 7 years thereafter.
In his spare time Keith likes to cook and entertain friends and is an avid gardener and inshore saltwater fisherman both of which provide ingredients for a number of his Cajun specialties.
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