Evergreen Tree Care & Peak Erosion

Evergreen Trees

• A healthy evergreen tree will produce 8 to 16 inches of new growth per year, according to the Nurseyman reference site. Much of this growth process relies on an ongoing water supply through the tree’s root system. Evergreen tree care involves upkeep throughout the year to ensure needed water and nutrients reach tree stem and leaf structures. Without proper care, evergreens become subject to a process known as desiccation, which appears as dried out leaves and branches. Desiccation occurs when tree leaves transpire, or give off more water than the plant takes in. When this happens, erosion of tree peaks and tree root systems occur.

Peak Erosion

• Peak erosion effects become most apparent in spring. By spring, harsh winter conditions may have damaged an evergreen’s root system, stem and leaf structures. Ground freezing during the winter may result in erosion effects appearing in the tree’s root system in early spring, at the time when evergreens should begin to produce new growth. Frozen soil prevents needed water and nutrient materials from reaching roots and supplying tree stems and leaves with needed materials. This causes tree roots to erode or die off. As a result, the effects of winter erosion can cause tree structures to dry out and break off by the time spring arrives. In effect, peak erosion appears at the top of an evergreen in cases where branches have broken off, leaving stem structures exposed to the elements.

Pruning & Fertilizing

• The growth season for evergreen trees typically ends around the July-August period. Depending on tree type, July makes for the best time to prune a Spruce-type variety, while fir evergreens shouldn’t be pruned until the fall season. In general, pruning helps to train a tree’s growth pattern and eliminate dead or diseased branches and leaves.
  In cases where a tree’s top or peak leaves begin to fade from their normal deep-green color, erosion effects may be preventing nutrients from reaching branch and leaf structures. Applying fertilizer materials on the soil’s surface can help provide needed nutrients to a tree’s root system.

Watering & Mulching

• Evergreen tree care involves a regular schedule of watering and maintaining soil moisture levels throughout the year. These practices help to prevent peak erosion effects from developing in tree root and leaf structures. Heavy winter snowfalls help to maintain soil moisture levels, while conditions involving low humidity and high winds increase the likelihood of dried out limbs and leaves. As an added precaution, mulch materials or wood chips can help maintain ground moisture levels through the winter months. Applying a 2-inch layer of mulch materials over tree roots will prevent water loss and create a balanced level of moisture around tree roots. Mulch materials can also be placed in a circular berm or trench around an evergreen as a way to keep weeds out and concentrate water supplies on top of tree root systems.