Tree Care

Mature trees contribute to the beauty of Kenilworth, absorb stormwater and CO2, and provide habitats for birds, animals, and insects. Maintaining your trees will help ensure that we have beautiful, healthy trees throughout Kenilworth for generations. 

Mulching

  • Mulch a 3' - 10' radius around the trunk with 2" - 4" of shredded or chipped bark or composted leaves. Be sure to pull mulch 4" away from the tree trunk, creating a donut hold. Ideally, the mulch should extend to the drip line of the tree. 
  • DO NOT pile mulch against the trunk, as this promotes tree rot, insects, disease, and roots growing in a circle, strangling the tree.  Mulching

Watering

  • It's very important to water trees if drought conditions persist for more than 2 weeks (less than an inch of rain per week). 
  • Infrequent, deep watering is important. Sprinkler systems are not designed to water deeply, and evaporation during hot weather means most water will not make it to your tree roots. 
  • Water the tree at its dripline until the soil is moist, not soggy. Too much water is as harmful as too little.
  • During periods of thaw, continue to water trees, especially any that receive salt spray as the water will dilute the salt. 

Drip line

Pruning

  • The best time of the year to prune is winter.
  • The worst time of the year to prune is early fall or spring when fungal diseases are most prevalent. 
  • Using a certified arborist is recommended. 

Poor Tree Health and/or Diseases

  • A change in your tree's health could be caused by a range of issues such as drought, soil condition leading to lack of nutrients, or disease. 
  • Addressing problems early can help restore a tree's health. 
  • If a diseased tree cannot be treated, it should be removed promptly to reduce the risk of spreading the disease to other trees. 
  • It's important to note that mature trees, especially larger ones, may often be described by an arborist as "in decline", but can still have many decades of life left if properly cared for and allowed to grow.
  • IF you are concerned about your tree's health, contact a certified arborist.

Additional Resources

For additional information on tree care, please visit the links below: