MAY Spotlight for Tree Care
Top 3 Tree & Landscape Tasks for May
The BIG Oak’s May TREEfecta
Every month, The BIG Oak will spotlight 3 tasks to focus on for each month. Here is a look at the TREEfecta for May:
#1 Apple Scab Applications
Apple scab is a common foliar fungal disease of crabapple and apple trees in Minnesota. Apple scab can cause early leaf-drop for several varieties of crabapple trees, often as early as June. This loss of foliage creates trees that are aesthetically thin and sparse. Defoliation for several years can develop into a stressful situation causing dieback of twigs in the upper crown. Cool, wet weather in April can create a perfect storm for the development of apple scab. Applications must be done preventively so get your crabapple trees sprayed early (as soon as leaves emerge).
Typical symptoms of apple scab on a crabapple tree in June, following a wet, cool April in Minnesota.
#2 Tree Planting
Following Earth Day and Arbor Day in April, the conditions in May should be perfect to begin tree planting. Remember these 5 important factors when deciding to plant trees.
#1 Right tree for the right location
Planting trees in the wrong location can lead to potential tree failure, an increased need for pruning, shortened life span or potential damage to sidewalks and structure.
#2 Plant at the correct depth
Planting too deep will set the tree down a path of stress almost immediately.
#3 Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball
Roots grow wide, not deep. Create space for the roots to break out of the root ball.
#4 Remove any twine from around the base of the tree
Regardless of what some may say, twine absolutely can choke (and kill) a new tree. Absolutely remove it.
#5 Cut and remove and girdling or circling roots
Remove any circling or choking roots that can cause problems in the short term.
Bonus Comment from The Big Oak = Check out my Top 5 Lists for specific tree or shrub species to plant.
May is a great time for spring planting to begin in Minnesota.
#3 Remove EAB-infested Ash Trees
Hopefully declining and EAB-infested ash trees were removed during winter months. For those high-level declining and hazardous ash trees, tree removal should begin asap. This will remove any potential hazard, will remove ash trees before emerging adults can cause any further issues, and will allow some time for tree replacement.
Bonus reminder from The BIG Oak = Leaving heavily infested ash trees standing all year will just create more infestations for surrounding trees. Help lower the EAB population by removing heavily infested ash trees as soon as possible.
Leaving heavily infested ash trees can assist in the spread of Emerald ash borer.
