A professional arborist should be consulted periodically to ensure optimum tree health. They can help prevent environmental damage to trees, and can help with an action plan for a tree at risk. If you need professional assistance with your tree, consult with an arborist who specializes in the care of individual trees. Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care.

There are many qualified arborists in Charlotte.  The companies listed below support TreesCharlotte and are staffed with arborists whose partnership and expertise are invaluable to TreesCharlotte.  This list is by no means comprehensive and we suggest you choose an accredited arborist with experience and references. There are many people who call themselves “arborists,” but lack the training and knowledge of a certified professional. Learn why it matters here. We recommend looking at:

Arborguard Tree Specialists

Bartlett Tree Experts

Davey

Heartwood Tree

Paul Bunyan Tree Care

Schneider Tree Care

Check out the ISA’s Find an Arborist tool here for more arborist recommendations!

When hiring any tree care company, we recommend you consider the following protocols to protect yourself:

1. Insist on certificates of insurance for liability damage and Workers Comp. These should be provided by the service provider’s insurance company by email.  Do NOT accept a handed piece of paper! If someone is injured while working on your property, you do NOT want to be liable for their medical expenses.
2. Do NOT pay any money in advance of completion.
3. Check references.

During the first growing season, TreesCharlotte trees should be watered roughly 5 gallons per week. Your tree may require more water during hot, dry spells or less during rainy periods. Soil drainage also can effect how much you should water. The best watering advice we can give you is to put your finger in the soil around the root ball and feel. If the soil is dry throughout, it needs water. 

It will take 2-3 years for your tree’s roots to get established. You should continue to water it during this time, especially in the summer. Routinely checking the soil around your tree is the best way to see if water is needed. 

Once your tree is mature, it will seldom need supplemental watering unless there is a significant drought. When in times of drought, turn a garden hose on low flow and place it midway between the trunk and dripline. Leave it on for an hour or two and move the hose around to different sides during this time.

Not all mulch is created equal! Mulching your tree using organic material is one of the best things you can do to care for your tree. Not to mention, it’s easy, cost-effective, and turns into soil as it decomposes. This can include shredded hardwood mulch, wood chips, or your trees’ fallen leaves. Pine bark and pine needles are okay, but not as good. Dyed mulch is not preferred because it contains unknown chemicals. The worst choice, by far, is shredded rubber mulch. This substance is ground-up tires, and is not mulch at all. Instead of breaking down into soil, it will leach chemicals into the soil and heat up the soil around your trees.

As your tree grows and matures, you should continuously replace the tree’s mulch layer as it breaks down. Apply a layer of mulch from the tree’s drip line to about a hands-width away from the tree’s stem. Don’t volcano mulch, or pile mulch up to the base of the roots! Trees still need air at their root flare, and piling mulch too high will suffocate the tree!

As your tree matures, keep up the mulching! More mulch will be required as the tree gets bigger, since the ring should extend out to the drip line.

We recommended avoiding  pruning during the tree’s first year in the ground. However, it acceptable to prune dead, diseased, and broken branches during this time.

As the tree grows, pruning is a great tree care practice that can save thousands of dollars in mature tree care. Structural pruning improves long-term structure and and prevents future problems that could occur from poorly spaced branches. Never remove more than 25% of leaf-bearing canopy at one time and always use proper pruning techniques. If you have never receibed training in how to prune a tree, it is probably better to call an ISA-Certified arborst to perform the pruning.

How to Prune Young Shade Trees

In most cases, mature tree pruning should be done by a professional to avoid injury to the tree and yourself. Smaller, easy-to-access branches can be done on your own, but be sure to understand proper pruning technique.

Pruning Mature Trees

Pruning Crape Myrtles

While not always necessary, some trees in urban soils can experience nutrient deficiencies. We always recommend getting a fertilizer test done before taking action to ensure you are purchasing and applying the correct type and amount. Check our fertilizer guide below:

A Guide to Fertilizing Trees

 If your tree came with a stake, remove it 6-12 months after planting! A stake left on too long can girdle the tree and cause long-term problems.

Check out our stake-removal video!

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive insect that has already killed tens of millions of ash trees in North America and is moving into areas of North Carolina. Susceptible trees in North Carolina are most ash species ash and white fringetree. This beetle can spread by flying or through the accidental, human-facilitated movement of infested wood. For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer, click here.

Cankerworm

Cankerworms are a common, native caterpillar that feasts on the leaves of hardwood trees, preferably willow oaks. For years, Charlotte experienced a higher-than-normal population of cankerworms, which threatened the health of our beloved canopy.  However, thanks to tree-banding efforts, cankerworm populations have dropped to manageable levels.  Tree banding is no longer necessary and it is recommended that any existing bands be removed.  More on cankerworms here: Cankerworm Update

Other Common Insects

Many insects attack trees that are stressed, whether from drought, compacted soil, or mulch volcanoes. Often, insect infestations are a sign of poor tree health, rather than the cause of the problem. Some other common pests to watch out for are:

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale: White-grey encrustations that stick to the bark of Crape Myrtles

Southern Pine Beetle: Bark beetles that infest pines by eating the vascular system, causing orange/brown needles and pitch tubes on the bark.

Orange Striped Oakworm: Black and orange caterpillars that defoliate primarily oaks in fall.

Ambrosia Beetle: Seeing toothpick-looking frass coming out of your declining tree? It’s likely Ambrosia Beetle.

Invasive vines like English ivy, wisteria, and kudzu can quickly grow up a tree. This adds extra weight and blocks the tree’s leaves from photosynthesis. Learn how to identify and manage vines with our Invasive Vine Resource Guide:

Invasive Vine Resource Guide

An urban landscape is a tough place for a tree to grow up.  Even with proper care and maintenance, trees can still be susceptible to adverse environmental influences. This might be in the form of storms, drought, invasive pests, and construction damage.

Learn more about Avoiding Tree Damage During Construction.

Learn more about Protecting Your Tree From Extreme Weather.

Taking care of your mature trees promotes tree health and structural integrity, ensures a tree’s value will continue to grow, and prevents the development of more costly problems in the future. Read about mature tree care here:

Mature Tree Care