An OregonHomeowner’s Guide

to Tree Care

FACT: Once mature, most trees do not have ataproot. They have anchor and feeder roots thatare mostly in the top three feet of soil and oftenextend beyond the canopy width of the tree.

FACT: Painting wound dressing on pruning cuts isunnecessary and can actually hurt the tree bycausing the pruning cut to seal slower.

FACT: Cutting branches flush with the trunk willrob the tree of natural chemicals used to closethe wound. This will lead to decay in the tree.

Oregon Department of ForestryUrban and Community Forestry

Assistance Program

Additional information about how to properlyplant and care for trees is available fromyour local Oregon State University Extensionoffice, from professional arborists, and onthe Internet.

The website for the International Society ofArboriculture (ISA), at www.isa-arbor.comcontains consumer information brochures ontopics including the Benefits of Trees,Mature Tree Care, How to Recognize TreeHazards, and others.

ISA’s Pacific Northwest Chapter website atwww.pnwisa.org contains a wealth of treecare information including lists of certifiedarborists who work for commercial tree carecompanies and as consulting arborists.

The National Arbor Day Foundation websiteat www.arborday.org also contains treeplanting and tree care information forhomeowners.

Learn more about community forestry byvisiting the Oregon Community Treeswebpage at www.oregoncommunitytrees.org.

Find Out More About Tree Care PROPER TREE CARE

Proper tree care is a mystery to some.Plant a tree and nature will take care ofthe rest, right? Not necessarily. Thetrees in our yards, neighborhoods, andcities are a valuable asset, and they requireour help to keep them healthy.

Proper tree care is important becausetrees are an investment in the value ofyour home and the livability of yourneighborhood. Trees in our citiescontribute to the quality of our lives bycleaning our air, cooling and shading ourhomes, and increasing property values andthe attractiveness of a community. Soundslike trees work pretty hard, doesn’t it?

There is a “right way” and a “wrong way” tocare for trees. If your trees had theopportunity, would they move to yourneighbor’s yard? If so, here are some tipsyou need to know about how to keep yourtrees healthy and working for you.

WHY TOPPING HURTS TREES

Topping is the senseless practice ofindiscriminately removing a majority of atree’s branches. Topping violates mostcommonly accepted methods of properpruning. Many people think that toppingwill help their trees, but in reality it isone of the worst things you can do toyour tree!

Topping does not make your tree safe.Topping actually creates a moredangerous tree because the branchesthat “sprout” after topping are weaklyattached and as a result they are morelikely to break in a snow, ice, orwindstorm. Topping also makes your treeprone to insect and disease damagebecause improper cuts invites decay.Topping actually starves your tree byremoving leaves that help the tree grow.Topping is also expensive because it willnot keep your tree small unless repeatedevery year, and because it will shortenthe life span of your tree. By contrast,the positive effects of proper pruningwill make your tree healthier and extendits life. Clearly, topping is not in YOURor YOUR TREE’S best interest!

DIDYOU

KNOW?Research has dispelled

some long-held treecare myths. Here are

some facts you may notknow: DON’T

LET THISHAPPEN

TO YOURTREES!

Oregon Department of Forestry

This brochure was produced by theOregon Department of Forestry’sUrban and Community Forestry Assist.Program. Visit our website atwww.odf.state.or.us/forestlandownersfor more information about trees.You can email the urban forestry staffat urbanforestry@odf.state.or.us orcall us at (503) 945-7391.

This brochure was published with theassistance of the USDA ForestService PNW Region. The USDA is anequal opportunity provider and

Newly plantedtrees need extrawater to surviveOregon’s drought-prone summerseason. Make surenew trees getwater at least oncea week.

NATURAL TARGET PRUNING

Making careful and correct pruning cuts is one of the best things you can do for your trees. These guidelinesand the accompanying graphic will help you make the right cuts:

Natural Target Pruning

•Locate the branch bark ridge (H) and the branch collar (E to B).•Stub cut the branch (up F, down G).•Locate points A and B where the branch meets the branch collar.•Cut from A to B, or from B to A with care.•If position of B is uncertain, draw a line in your mind from A to E.•Angle EAD is approximately the same as angle EAB.•Point D is the beginning of the branch bark ridge (H).•Do not leave stubs.•Do not paint the wounds.

Never “flush cut” a tree by removing the branch collar. For hardwood trees the best time to prune livingbranches is late in the winter before the leaves form in the spring. Conifers can generally be pruned anytime,using caution during their flush of growth in early summer. Dead and dying branches can be pruned anytime.Always use sharp tools and make clean cuts. Use caution with sharp tools and power saws. Remember, safetyfirst.

TREE CARE AROUND OREGON

A Few Questions to Ask YourselfBEFORE You Plant A New Tree

How to Have the Best Looking Treesin Your Neighborhood

When the job is too big for you to handle safely,it is time to call in a professional. Here aresome tips for selecting an arborist to care foryour trees:

Hire someone who is bonded, licensed andinsured. In Oregon, tree service companiesmust register with the state, but that is noguarantee of quality.

Ask for references and get more than onebid. Take your time and select a company youknow is reputable.

Look for a Certified Arborist, someone whohas passed the International Society ofArboriculture Certification Exam.

Beware of “doorknockers.” Most companieshave business cards, uniforms, truck signs,etc.

A good arborist rarely recommends topping,and should try to talk you out of it if you askto have it done. Avoid tree topping at allcosts.

When pruning trees, climbers should not usespurs in order to prevent damage to the bark.

Tips on How To Select An Arborist ToCare for Your Trees

With proper care, your trees will remain an assetto your property for years to come. Now thatyou know how to care for your trees properly,pass this brochure on to a friend or neighbor!

In Oregon’s wildfire-prone areas, homeowners need to take steps to minimize the fire hazard around their homes.Fire-resistant plants, carefully placed and maintained, can help protect your home and property.

In the High Desert region,newly planted trees benefit fromwinter watering when the soil is

not frozen and water will percolatedown to the tree roots.

In Portland and the Willamette Valley,Oregon white oak trees are increasingly

threatened by development, over-watering, andneglect. If you have a native oak tree,

take extra care to preserve it.

Newlyplanted trees alongthe coast may needextra staking due to

strong winds.Remember to

remove stakingmaterials when thetree can stand on

its own.

Graphic used by permission ofShigo and Trees, AssociatesP.O. Box 769 Durham, NH 03824

Does the site provide enough room for thetree’s crown and roots to grow?

Are there utility wires or other obstructionsunderground or overhead?

What is the soil like? Sandy or clay? Poorlydrained or well drained? Is there anadequate water source?

What functions will the tree serve? Do youwant shade, a windbreak or screen, or fallcolor? The answers to these questions willdetermine your species choice.

Plant the right tree in the right place. Choosethe site and find a tree with characteristicsfor that site. For example, a Douglas-fir treeshould not be planted under powerlines due toit’s height.

Mulch around the tree to avoid soil compactionand root suffocation. Use a ring of wood chips2-4 inches deep extending 2 feet out from thebase of the tree, keeping the mulch slightlyaway from the tree trunk.

Give your trees a drink! Newly planted treesneed water regularly each week during the dryseason.

Protect young trees from mowers, weed-eaters, and other equipment.

Leave roots alone. Damage to tree roots is acommon cause of tree death in homelandscapes.

Prune according to accepted methods. Hire anarborist when the job is too big.

If you think your tree is too large, don’t top it!You might be better off cutting the tree downand planting a smaller variety.