If you provide trees with the proper space, water, soil, and care, it will grow tremendously—possibly even more than you ever expected.
A big part of Portland tree care is educating yourself on your tree’s specific needs, and part of that is knowing just how much growth to expect. Of course, the exact amount of growth is going to vary widely depending on the species of tree, and other factors. The aim of this article is to help you estimate how much growth to expect from your tree and how to prepare for that growth when it does occur.
Species of Tree
Some popular trees can grow extremely fast. This can be great for you if you have acquired a new property and want to plant some privacy trees around; it’s in your best interests if the trees attain maturity as fast as possible!
A tree like the crape myrtle can grow very rapidly; gaining up to five feet per year if the conditions are good. Some trees grow even faster than this; poplar trees can grow up to six feet per year, while weeping willow trees can attain up to eight feet per year. Certain tree species, such as the Royal Empress, can grow up to an astonishing fifteen feet per year! Of course, the height of any of these species is not unlimited. Most of them will peak at around 30-50 feet and you won’t see any further growth from there.
Types of Growth
While some trees grow faster than others, it’s important to note that not all types of growth are the same. Certain types of trees can keep growing upward, gaining height until they tower over your home; however, despite this they will not gain any significant width.
Other trees don’t really grow upward, they grow out; their branches becoming longer and the trees becoming wider until they have attained their maximum diameter. Still other trees are more impressive for the growth of their roots; while the tree itself may not change in size much, the roots will grow and spread and potentially choke out other plants on your property.
Knowing exactly what kind of growth you can expect is a crucial skill to have if you plan to have trees on your property. When you are considering a particular type of tree, think about if there’s a limit to the height you want; most homeowners can’t fit a 100-foot tall redwood in their yards, after all. Consider also where the branches will spread; you don’t want them reach out and scratching the walls of your home.
Also think about the roots; if the roots grow to far, will they pose a threat to underground pipes, and to the roots of other nearby trees? Contact a local tree care service to help answer to these questions for you.
Health of the Tree
Health is a major factor in the growth of any tree. If a tree is planted in the wrong soil or isn’t receiving the proper nutrition or the water that it needs, its ability to grow can be stunted. If you are trying to get a certain amount of growth from a tree but it doesn’t seem to be developing in the way you hoped, contact a Portland tree care company to come do an inspection. They will be able to investigate if there’s anything preventing the tree from growing. They will check the pH of the soil, find out if the tree is getting enough water, and also look for signs of a pest infestation.
Sometimes, even if your tree is getting plenty of nutrition and water, pests can damage its vascular system, preventing those nutrients from actually being carried to the limbs and branches. After determining if any invasive pest species have moved in, a tree service will be able to take steps to deal with the problem.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as a minor trim of the tree. In more extreme instances, the tree may need to be removed entirely and replaced with a healthier version.
How To Stop a Tree From Growing
Sometimes, you have a different problem: your tree is growing out of control and you want to stop it from growing any further.
In cases like this, you should also contact a tree service. Sometimes it is possible to slow or even stop the continued growth of a tree without damaging that tree’s health. One simple way to do this is to plant other plants nearby.
Once these plants have to share the nutrients in the soil, they will grow more slowly. You can also greatly slow the growth of a tree by regularly trimming it. If you do wish to have your tree trimmed, make sure you utilize the services of a professional. Attempting to do a job like this yourself can often be detrimental to the health of the tree, not to mention unsafe for you!
Professional arborists, like those in the employ of a tree service, will have the proper safety equipment and the training necessary to climb to the top of a tree without damaging it or putting themselves at risk.
They will also make sure to properly disinfect their tools to prevent spreading any harmful bacteria to the tree and are trained to cut just the right amount off of a limb or branch. Cutting too much can injure the tree, especially if you damage the base of a limb.
Caring for trees is your arborists’ job, so give your Portland tree service a call today!
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