A Note On Trees . . . .

Always properly site the location of your new trees before purchasing them.  Research their optimal growing conditions, paying attention to existing shade, location of utility lines, building foundations, driveways and sidewalks.
Planting before March will give their roots all winter to get established and enables them to handle summer heat. Containerized trees and shrubs can be planted all year but right now is much easier on them.

Be sure to keep newly planted shrubs and trees well watered if the weather is dry throughout the winter. Keep the soil moist not soggy.

Trees should be pruned while they are dormant. With our late warm weather most deciduous trees have not dropped all their leaves yet so you should wait to prune them. Deciduous trees are best pruned while the leaves are down as it is easier to see the structure of the tree. 

Do not remove more than one-quarter to one-third of your trees branches in any one season. Pruning more than that will potentially reduce the trees ability to photosynthesize and feed itself.  This creates stress, making it more prone to attack by pests and diseases.

Shrubs should be dormant by mid-December. Trim shrubs if needed unless they are spring bloomers. 

Don’t let mulch at the base of trees pile up to the trunks.  We don’t want to encourage critters to spend time there.