Becoming a new homeowner provides many challenges. And having a healthy lawn and beautiful landscaping takes some effort and work. But it's worth the effort, adding significant value to your home and making life more pleasurable. It also helps us to have a nice neighborhood. Here are some tips to help you achieve the yard you would like. 

Pruning Your Trees & Shrubs

Tree Pruning 
  1. Remove broken, twisted or cracked branches. 
  2. Do not remove more than 25% of the crown in a single year. 
  3. Prune during the dormant season, the winter. 
  4. Make clean cuts with sharp tools. 
  5. Do not cut into the branch collar (as illustrated below). 
  6. Use the 3-cut system for large branches (as illustrated below)
  7. More information on pruning on the web at www.TreesareGood.com.
The tree pruning graphic is courtesy of Norman Parks and Recreation Forestry Division. 

Quick Tips for Trees

  1. Tree Planting Tip: About one year after you plant a new tree, remove the support wires; they damage/inhibit tree growth.
  2. Water Your Trees: It seems many neighborhood trees are not getting sufficient water each week, so trees turn from green to fall colors too early, look unhealthy or even die. Suggested amount of water for the summer is 10 to 15 gallons per week.
  3. Southwest Disease on Trees: Look for split bark on the southwest side of the tree. If you see this, you need to wrap the tree trunk in October. Just remember to remove the wraps in the spring. (See the handout below.)
  4. Insect Infestations: Check your trees, shrubs and plants for insect infestations. These are important to look out for.
  5. Fertilizing Your Trees: One of the easiest option is to use fertilizer spikes in both September and March.  Follow package instructions for placement.
  6. Tree Injuries: Inspect your trees for mechanical injury and use preventative measures-- weed whackers and lawn mowers are notorious.

Mechanical Injury to Trees Info
norman_pruning.pdf
File Size: 134 kb
File Type: pdf
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Southwest Winter Injury on Deciduous Trees

This handout was created by the UtahState University Cooperative Extension
sunscald_injury_or_southwest_winter_injury_on_deciduous_trees.pdf
File Size: 2859 kb
File Type: pdf
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This handout discussing mechanical injuries from mowers, trimmers, etc., was produced by Oklahoma State University. 
mechanical_injury_to_trees_can_cause_irreversible_damage___news_and__information___oklahoma_state_university.pdf
File Size: 1000 kb
File Type: pdf
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Tree Watering Guide

The watering Guide is from the Norman Parks and Recreation Forestry Division. 
norman_watering_guide_0.pdf
File Size: 166 kb
File Type: pdf
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