Let’s be honest, sometimes your trees don’t look the way you want them to. The good news is if that is the case you’ve come to the right place. Whether you have a young tree or a mature overgrown one, here are a number of things you can do to help your trees look their best and fit into the surrounding landscape. Landscaping your trees involves work that falls primarily under two categories: Pruning, and pest/disease care. 

Before we get into the nitty gritty of espalier, copper sprays, and codling moths however, it is important to mention that as with many things in the orchard the best way to landscape will depend on your trees, bioregion, and specific pest/disease factors. For instance copper spray, while a useful pest treatment tool, should never be used on peaches and nectarines. Identifying your trees’ specific needs can be a fair amount of work and if laying down dormant spray isn’t your idea of a good time, we’d love to come out and do it for you! Consider booking a consultation for our full service tree care program. If you’re excited to get pruning but are feeling a little overwhelmed, consider signing up for our DIY tree care emails or signing up for a workshop; no matter the level of involvement you’d like to have, we’re here to help.

Pruning

Now, let’s get into pruning. Typically big, shaping cuts are performed in the winter, and smaller maintenance cuts are done in the summer. In the winter your trees are dormant, which means they’re creating hormones to prevent growth and damage from cold; as a result of this dormancy the stress associated with losing a limb or two is greatly reduced. For this same reason, making large cuts in the summer, when trees have long since broken dormancy, is not advised. Pruning brings with it a variety of other benefits (link), too.

But what does it have to do with landscaping?

Well, it means that shaping or re-shaping your tree through pruning ought to be done during the winter months. If you have a young flexible tree however, there is an option that isn’t so season dependent: espalier.

Espalier is a technique first used by the Romans and refers to training a fruit tree, most commonly apple or pear, to grow flat against a wall or trellis. This technique isn’t applied in a single day but with time it yields a tree that is both beautifully landscaped and efficient when it comes to fruit production.

The reality is that landscaping a tree takes time, but with the right know how almost any tree can be landscaped.

Pest management

Simply put, a healthy tree is a beautiful tree. A pest and disease free environment is central to any landscaping effort. The bulk of pest and disease management is done in the early spring, but there are steps that can be taken in the fall, too. 

Spring pest and disease control for landscaping consists primarily of assessing and treating existing pest/disease factors. Treatment protocols are species and pest/disease specific, but in broad form spring pest and disease management looks like:

• Removing grasses and other weeds in a 2-3 foot radius around the base of the trunk, so that they will not compete with your tree for water and nutrients.

• Applying organic mulch within that radius

• Setting traps for specific pests

• Undertaking a spraying regimen

These steps are best taken in early spring, while your trees are still dormant. They disrupt the life cycle of most pests, which is key to ensuring they do not return in the coming year.

In contrast, fall pest and disease control for landscaping consists primarily of:

• Cleaning up fallen fruit

• Identifying pest and disease issues for later treatment

Landscaping is a more holistic process than just cutting and shaping, but with time and effort your trees can thrive! 

What if I need more info?

We offer a variety of resources to the avid DIY’er. Consider signing up for a workshop, or booking a coaching session through our tree care program!

What if I can’t do this myself?

Don’t worry! Landscaping is hard work, but our experienced orchardists would love to do it for you. To get in touch, book a consultation. During this session we will create a bespoke care plan for your trees to ensure their long term health and aesthetic beauty; it is also a great opportunity to ask questions, or communicate specific goals.