Caring for trees on a budget can be difficult. Sometimes, trees need a lot of care. This requires a lot of money. The good news is that, most times, trees don’t require a lot of care besides water and sunshine. They pretty much can take care of themselves. They are uniquely designed that way.
However, disease or damage can bring trees – and tree owners – to their knees. When trees are diseased or dying, you may need to get a professional opinion to determine what to do about them. Of course, you don’t have to be an expert to spot many potential tree problems. It just helps if you have one to help you decide what to do about them.
To make sure your trees are healthy, you can do a preliminary check on your trees. This will help save your budget somewhat. We encourage you to look for the following tell-tale signs of issues. These include, but are not limited to:
- Discolored leaves and a thinning crown,
- Roots that have come loose from the ground,
- Fungal growths on roots and the main part of the trunk,
- Dead and fallen branches that are more than 2 inches in diameter,
- Deep, vertical cracks on opposite sides of the main trunk,
- Sawdust on the trunk from wood-boring insects,
- A trunk that noticeably leans in one direction,
- A branch canopy that is not roughly balanced,
- Deformities and deposits on leaves, limbs or the bark,
- And more.
You may also need to budget in some tree work if you need to eliminate risk of damage to your house from a tree, keep electrical or utility wires from rubbing tree limbs or precarious overhanging limbs, allow light and breezes to penetrate your home more readily and protect your foundation and drainage systems from invading roots.
In many cases, the solution is obvious – you will need to remove specific limbs from your tree. However, it can be difficult to diagnose and treat trees, especially on a budget. When you can’t do it on your own, you will need to consider hiring a tree service and get some expert advice. If you find that you do need tree care, it’s often advisable to get quotes and information from more than one tree care provider. This helps you determine the range of prices as well as help you get a feel for the company and what it has to offer you so you can make an educated, not just a budget-based, decision.
Sometimes, you get what you pay for – and that isn’t always a good thing. If you can wait, consider having the work done in winter when tree care companies are less likely to be busy. You may be able to get a discount on service calls at this time. You should also find out of the company asks for payment in full up front or after the work is completed. It’s better to work with a company that asks for it after the work has been completed.
For more information on budget tree care, please stay tuned to this blog. We will do all we can to help those of you on a budget learn how to care for your trees and seek the advice of a professional when needed.
