When you plant a tree, it’s easy to imagine all the ways that it will grow to provide curb appeal and relaxing shade for generations to come. But what could make that beautiful, newly installed tree turn into a maintenance headache.
We help our clients consider how to focus on the positives, and deal with the potential problems. That way, you don’t have to endure the costs and stress associated with damage, disease, or liability due to improper tree and shrub care.
This article breaks down harmful examples and the following topics:
- Right Plant, Right Place Landscaping
- Ideal Trees and Shrubs Regionally (free download)
- Crape Murder
- HOA Tree Maintenance Tips
- Seasonal Tree & Shrub Maintenance
- The Dormant Season
- Why It Pays to Partner with Professionals
- FAQ
Right Plant, Right Place Landscaping: Why It Matters
“Right plant, right place landscaping” is simple. The concept is all about matching plant characteristics with site conditions. Here are a few factors that come into play:
- Tree size
- Property goals
- Evergreen vs deciduous trees
- Will falling leaves cause property problems?
- Sunlight requirements of shrubbery
- Shade on the site
You’d be surprised how plants thrive when they fit the environment they’re planted in. The struggle comes when plants are “forced” into unsuitable environments.
Since trees and shrubs are the most valuable landscape elements within your property, the benefits of the right plant, right place are amplified. Curb appeal improves with healthier trees and shrubbery. Healthier plants also live longer, require less maintenance, and don’t lead to safety hazards (e.g., diseased limbs falling).
How about a common example of problematic plant selection that’s easy to overlook? Trees growing into power lines. At the time of planting, it can be easy to overlook power lines that seem far above. It takes a good property assessment to plan for that tree reaching 30 feet tall or more.
Installing shrubs and trees in the wrong place also leads to other problems:
- Limbs blocking signage or lights
- Power outages due to falling limbs
- Overgrown shrubs reducing drivers’ visibility
Power companies cutting limbs near power lines are often doing a functional task versus one focused on aesthetics, leading to unsightly and misshaped mature trees in your landscape.
Choosing the Right Trees & Shrubs Regionally
No matter where your property is located, there are four key considerations before choosing trees and shrubs to install.
Size at Maturity: Plan for the size the tree will be when it reaches maturity. Large trees should be planted a good distance from electric lines, buildings, and hardscapes (e.g., sidewalks and driveways). Shrubs should not be selected if their maximum height will impede sightlines at intersections or pedestrian crossings.
Root Structure: Avoid plant species that have aggressive or shallow roots. They can damage pavement, foundations, and utility infrastructure. Selecting deep-rooted plants can prevent this issue while reducing erosion.
Sun and Shade Tolerance: Match each tree and shrub with its proper sunlight requirements on the site. Selecting native species is wise. And check weather websites to see the number of full sun days your area gets annually. Thoughtful planning includes a vision for future construction and property amenities, if your community is still being “built out”.
Soil and Drainage Compatibility: No plants should be chosen before the soil pH is tested and the site inspected for drainage concerns. For example, soils with excess clay can prevent certain trees and shrubs from thriving.
Download this handy pruning infographic highlighting timing and frequency regionally.
Are there some species that are generally bad options? Yes. See the following list:
- Privet (forms dense thickets)
- Bradford Pear (prone to storm damage)
- Princess Tree (invasive and spreads fast)
- Bush Honeysuckle (crowds out native plants)
Using the right plant, right place approach helps avoid future problems. Your property gets a bonus benefit, though, as biodiversity increases. Mixed species recover faster from problems like pests or harsh weather. Diverse landscapes invite beneficial pollinators, birds, and insects, while naturally enriching the soil.
Crape Myrtle Pruning: Stop the “Crape Murder”
So-called “crape murder” refers to the harmful pruning of beautiful crape myrtle trees. This practice is unfortunately common. Millions of attractive trees have their visual appeal wrecked each year when their tops are chopped off, leaving unsightly stubs.
Here’s why this type of crape myrtle pruning is harmful:
- Bloom quality drops
- Shortens trees’ lifespan
- Limb breakage increases
- Ruins trees’ natural shape
- Disease caused by weakened shoots
There are proper pruning techniques for crape myrtles. First, timing matters, and late winter is the best time to trim these trees. Branches that cross or grow inward should be trimmed. Suckers that sprout at the tree base should be cut. The crape myrtle’s natural shape should guide the professional doing the trimming. Light trimming with sharp cutting tools is a must.
The main way to stop rampant crape murder is to not allow the topping of a crape myrtle.
With correct pruning, property owners get vibrant, nicely shaped trees. Other upsides include.
- Bloom colors become brighter
- Reduced disease and pest risk
- Larger flowers and more of them
- Stronger limbs that resist wind damage
HOA Tree Maintenance Tips
Managing trees in an HOA community can be tricky. You want to balance shade with good visibility and safety. Shade shields residents, tenants, and guests from heat and damaging UV rays that researchers estimate cause 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers.
Yet, too much tree canopy causes hazards if limbs block views of important signage, sightlines, or lighting.
So, the key HOA tree maintenance tip is: raise the tree canopy.
This involves removing low-hanging limbs to provide balance. Plenty of shade remains while most visibility issues are solved. Of course, very tall trees could block street lights. Having a certified arborist available can give you solutions for that scenario. They can also plan tree installation so you don’t run into that problem five years down the line.
Tree canopy also affects turf and infrastructure. Grass can become stressed if trees rob it of too much sunlight and air flow. Stress leaves your turf vulnerable to pests and disease. Some grass is shade-tolerant. However, heavy shade is too much to overcome, regardless of the type of turf in your landscape. The result is thinning and patchy spots.
As for infrastructure, tree roots can crack sidewalks and other hardscapes. Initially, this is a tripping hazard. Then, it leads to repair and replacement costs. Heavy shade can leave hardscapes like patios damp, causing slippery mildew to build up, another slip-and-fall hazard.
Ideal Scenarios for Thinning or Raising Tree Canopies
- When limbs interfere with traffic
- If your turf or other ground cover lacks sunlight
- If shrubs or trees reduce safety by blocking views
- Best done when trees are younger to avoid major cuts
And since there’s no question trees are the most expensive plants to purchase, you want a true professional to handle the pruning. Certified arborists are tree experts. They’re not only trained in proper trimming and maintenance—simply consulting with them can save you from major hassles in the future.
Experienced arborists bring credibility and value like:
- Disease diagnosis
- Licensed and insured credentials
- Educated in tree biology
- Provide risk assessments
- Safety certifications updated regularly
- Emergency response for storm damage
- Work with municipalities for regulatory compliance
It’s a roll of the dice hiring just anyone to trim trees. In addition to being valuable parts of your landscape, the liability risks of novices climbing and removing large trees are too high.
Seasonal Tree & Shrub Maintenance
Your trees and shrubs will have higher visual appeal and longevity when they receive proper maintenance. Specific maintenance tasks should be done at the right time of year. Let’s break it down season by season.
Summer: Limit pruning to hazardous and dead branches. Too much pruning can exacerbate summer heat stress on plants.
Fall: Light pruning is best for natural shaping. Avoid major cuts. But do inspect for damage and disease and remove any of those branches.
Winter: This is the best season to trim most trees and shrubs because they’re dormant. Pruning while growth has paused and stress is minimal helps fend off disease and pests.
Spring: Remove damaged or weak sections before new growth starts, so fresh growth can flourish. To encourage next year’s blooms, spring-flowering trees should be pruned right after the blooms fade. Fertilize in the early spring, but only after a soil test. Delay fertilizing if the ground is frozen or drought has struck.
Of course, monitoring for early signs of tree and shrub problems reduces your worry and expense. Your provider should regularly check for pest damage, disease symptoms, insect eggs, and other common problems. Yellowstone Landscape has full-time arborists on staff to help customers stay ahead of major tree and shrub decline. Our landscape crews receive constant training as well, and use health checks during weekly maintenance visits.
Take Advantage of the Dormant Season
We noted the best time to prune is when plants are dormant. It’s also the ideal time to ensure plants are ready for spring. Refreshing mulch areas, for example, insulates roots from deep freezes, while suppressing weeds that can pop up after just a few warm days.
Clearing out old mulch, decaying leaves, and weeds helps prevent pests that could turn into infestations when spring arrives. Your landscaper should also inspect for salt damage from winter de-icers. Any wildlife damage should be addressed because springtime’s fresh growth may be impacted.
Don’t overlook watering in the winter. Irrigation isn’t usually needed in the dormant season. But a dry winter can be hard on newly planted trees and shrubs. Deep watering is advisable in those conditions.
Mulch Volcanoes
As you know, mulch is invaluable for aesthetics, holding in moisture, and shielding against lawn equipment damage. The thing to avoid is mulch volcanoes, though. This common practice involves piling up mulch at the tree’s base. It traps too much moisture. The results can range from suffocating roots, bark rot, and disease.
In short, mulch volcanoes must be avoided to keep trees from declining or dying. Mulch should perform how it would naturally in a state park, for example. Organic decay covers the ground there, but it doesn’t pile up on tree trunks. Mother Nature always shows us correct landscaping methods.
Why Partnering with a Pro Pays Off
Worrying about your trees and shrubs shouldn’t be part of your daily routine. Those worries are taken off your plate when you have experienced professionals managing your landscape.
Yellowstone Landscape has decades of tree and shrub care experience. The collective experience of our workforce is even greater. Yellowstone teams maintain landscapes across the country with varying climate factors, property challenges, and owner goals.
Our clients depend on Yellowstone arborists and horticultural experts to keep their trees and shrubs healthy and attractive. It’s both art and science, ensuring these plants thrive while achieving functionality for your residents, employees, and guests.
Other benefits Yellowstone Landscape clients enjoy are our:
- Tailored maintenance plans
- Constant updates on local regulations
- Adherence to right plant, right place philosophy
- Custom plans that fit clients’ budgets and needs
- Experience with hundreds of HOA communities addressing tree issues
- Tree inventories that prevent hazards, liability, and benefit the entire landscape
A simple consultation before installing trees that will grow to be 50 feet tall can give you insights you haven't considered. And a company that believes in comprehensive maintenance means less worry about storm damage and diseased trees toppling unexpectedly.
Preventive, proactive tree and shrub care benefits every aspect of your property. Contact Yellowstone Landscape for a site walkthrough today.
Conclusion
We covered several aspects of shrubs and tree care. Choosing the right plants for the right property makes all the difference. There are proven maintenance methods to follow at the right time of year.
As we saw with the crape murder and mulch volcano examples, many common tree care practices are actually devastating to trees. And when working with trees and large shrubs in an HOA neighborhood, even more mindful maintenance is critical. Common areas must work for all the residents and property line issues with large trees require good communication.
The most admired landscapes don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of expert care, comprehensive strategies, and right plant, right place concepts that the natural world reveals.
Tree and Shrub Care FAQ
- What is “Right Plant, Right Place” in landscaping?
“Right Plant, Right Place” means selecting plants whose size, needs, and growth habits match the specific conditions of their planting site. - Why do people say “Crape Murder” when pruning trees?
“Crape Murder” refers to the harmful practice of severely topping crape myrtles, which ruins their shape and weakens the tree. - How do I know if a tree is planted too close to a building?
If the tree’s mature canopy or roots will touch or damage the building, sidewalk, or foundation, it’s planted too close. - Can improper pruning kill a crape myrtle?
Yes, repeated improper pruning can stress or weaken a crape myrtle, making it more susceptible to disease and decline. - What’s the best way to maintain tree canopies in HOA properties?
Regular, professional pruning to balance shade, safety, and visibility is the best way to maintain healthy tree canopies in HOA properties. - Why is professional shrub maintenance worth it?
Professional maintenance ensures proper care, reduces costly mistakes, and keeps landscapes healthy and attractive. - How do you prevent root damage from large trees?
Plant large trees far enough from buildings and hardscapes to accommodate their mature root spread, and choose species with less aggressive roots. - What are signs that a tree or shrub is in the wrong location?
Signs include poor growth, frequent pruning needs, interference with structures or utilities, and increased pest or disease problems.
