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Terrific Trees and Shrubs, Five-Star Arborcare

Plant health care is important to keep your landscape flourishing for many years to come. WILBERCO Five-Star Arborcare helps to control and prevent debilitating phytological ailments from environmental stress, pathogens, or harmful insects. We often encounter many other abiotic factors that can be corrected with some guidance. Please consider the following tips and recommendations to enhance our quality Five-Star Arborcare program.

SITE & SELECTION - Choose the right plant for the right location. Sun vs shade, damp vs dry, deep roots or shallow... The most common landscape issues are with plants set in unfavorable locations. Consult a professional garden center or nursery when choosing new plants and review site conditions before planting.
LARGE NATIVE TREES - Check periodically and immediately remove hazards like broken branches or any dead limbs. Look for decay or signs of rot such as mushrooms forming on trunk. Consult an arborist or professional tree service.
DEER RESISTANT PLANTS - Deer and other critters love a free lunch. Cornell Co-op Extensions publish a list of deer-resistant plants and also provide many other useful gardening tips and advice. Rutgers also provides a user-friendly list:

https://njaes.rutgers.edu/deer-resistant-plants

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VOLCANO MULCH - Avoid placing too much mulch and do not form mounds or volcanoes around the base of trees. Spread mulch evenly at 2 to 3 inches deep, only up to the root flare. Do not use unprocessed mulch that may contain insects, spores, or disease. Rake out and turn mulch periodically to entrain air and revive.
AERATE ROOTS - Along with turning and raking mulch, it is helpful to aerate roots using a pitchfork. Gently insert tines and pivot to loosen compaction around area of drip line. Breaks up dense soil, allows drainage and oxygenation of the root zone.
ROOT GIRDLE - Caused by dense soil, planting too low, or setting unprepared compacted root ball. Remove netting and any cordage before planting. Fork aerate and scour root ball to loosen bound roots. Plant no deeper than buttress roots or flare and allow for settlement.

SHEARING - Done routinely to cut back only new growth and to control the shape of hedgerows, foundation plantings, or dense shrubbery. Selective pruning is still required for proper care and maintenance as shearing will increase foliage density over time.
PRUNING - Selective pruning is done by cutting back entire stems, branches, or limbs to the initial growth node. Prevents crowding, dense overgrowth, and increases air circulation and sunlight penetration. This should only be done by a licensed arborist or experienced professional.
WATERING - Frequent overhead watering or foliar spray irrigation can generate disease, scale, and encourage other insects to develop on trees and shrubs. Root soakers and drip-emitters work best. Water the roots, not the leaves.