The Florida Homeowner’s Guide to Tree Care and Maintenance

Living in the Sunshine State comes with a lot of benefits, but sometimes, you just want a little shade. Florida trees provide beauty, shade, and cooling spots for people, plants, and animals, and they help the environment in numerous ways. As a Florida homeowner, you want your trees to thrive, but you might be wondering how to help them flourish. We’ve got you covered. Read on for our guide to Florida tree care.

Common Native Central Florida Trees 

Florida might be known for its sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, but there are many types of native Florida trees you might find in your yard. Some of the trees most common in central Florida include:

• Live oak: These large oak trees require a lot of space, but thrive in the high salt content soil of the coastline.
• Redbud: Eastern redbuds provide intense color with their springtime blooms of bright pink.
• Bald cypress: If you have a large, wet yard, bald cypress can be a striking addition. They prefer damp conditions but are relatively low-maintenance.
• Sparkleberry: Aside from the fun name, sparkleberries are small, shrubby trees with white blooms and deep purple berries.
• Ornamental palms: Of course, we can’t leave out palm trees. Central Florida palm trees include many varieties, like Buccaneer palm, dwarf palmetto, or cabbage palm. 

There are many other trees you’ll find as part of Florida lawns and landscapes, including dogwoods, magnolias, tulip poplars, and various citrus trees.

Florida Tree Care Tips & Best Practices

Understanding tree care and how it should be implemented in your Florida landscape will help you maintain the beauty and health of your lawn and trees. Here’s how to do it:

Watering

Whether or not you need to water your trees depends on a couple of factors. First, are the trees established and mature? If so, you may be able to leave the watering up to Mother Nature or just be prepared to supplement her during extreme hot and dry spells. Second, how large is the tree, and what are its watering needs? Cypress, for instance, prefers to be wet most of the time, but once established, it can withstand near-drought conditions. Smaller, shrub-like trees used for landscaping may need to be watered just like grass or flowering plants. And, of course, lawns need to be watered. Typically, we recommend an irrigation system that can ensure water reaches grass and ornamental tree roots consistently.

Note: It’s always best to water early in the morning to avoid evaporation and ensure the water can penetrate the roots.

Fertilization

Fertilization provides critical nutrients to your trees and landscape plants, and it’s important to make this part of your annual lawn maintenance. Remember that some trees and plants have different nutrient needs, so it may be to your benefit to test your soil and consult a certified arborist with any questions about your trees’ health. 

Note: Palm trees often have different nutritional needs and can benefit from fertilizer that contains manganese, iron, copper, boron, and zinc. Since palms are often quite costly, you want to make sure you acquire expert tree services to protect your investment.

Tree Pruning and Maintenance

Tree trimming and pruning are important parts of tree care and management. Pruning should be done throughout the year to get rid of damaged or diseased branches and promote new, healthy growth. Autumn is the prime time for tree trimming, but you can prune away dead wood during the winter and struggling limbs in the spring or summer. If you have trees that are over 15 feet in height, your safest and best option is to ask a certified arborist or tree care specialist to manage your pruning.

Mulching

Because Florida is prone to extreme weather conditions, it can be beneficial to mulch the area around the trunks of your trees. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and protect tree roots, so they stay warmer in cold weather and cooler in the heat. Mulching can also keep weeds and vines at bay so they don’t grow around tree trunks or compete for water and nutrients. A two or three-inch layer of mulch should be sufficient.

Note: Too much mulch can be a big problem. When you pile mulch too deep around the base of the tree trunk, it can hold water and cause rot. Remember to remove old mulch before adding new so it doesn’t become too dense or matted, and never pile mulch against the tree trunk.

Pest and Disease Management

All trees are susceptible to damage from pests or diseases, but some trees are more prone to certain issues than others. Keep an eye out for unusual spotting on leaves or damage to the bark. If you notice fungus growing on the tree, do not remove it. While fungal disease is common for some trees, certain types of fungus are actually beneficial to the tree’s health or could be a sign of another issue. Instead, if you notice anything strange or concerning on your trees, it’s probably time to call in the professionals and contact a tree service company.

Note: The goal is always to save established trees, but there may be circumstances that require tree removal or emergency tree service. In these cases, look for an ISA-certified arborist or tree care specialist with many years of experience. They should be able to analyze tree health, give you expert advice on how to save compromised trees, or help you make tough decisions if the trees can’t be saved. They can also help with stump grinding, which you can then use to mulch and nourish the other trees in your yard.

Preparing for Extreme Weather

Extreme weather is a fact of life in Florida, and while you can’t always know what’s coming your way, you can be ready for it. Start by prepping your trees for winter weather, and then plan ahead for other types of severe weather.

Hurricane Preparedness in Central Florida

If you’re still planning your central Florida landscape, you can choose trees that will withstand high winds. Shorter trees with a low center of gravity are your best bet, like live oaks. If you already have a yard full of trees, pruning, and tree trimming are the best actions you can take to be hurricane-ready. Training trees by pruning out wispy or thin branches keeps them strong and leaves fewer limbs that can fly off in a storm. Be sure to trim branches close to your home or other structures, and have your landscape evaluated by a professional every couple of years.

Drought Tolerance

Some trees are more drought-tolerant than others, so first, understand the trees you have in your yard and their watering needs. Established trees can tough out brief droughts, even water-loves like cypress. But newer trees and those that thrive on regular watering will likely need to be supplemented. Supplemental watering should be done in the morning, and ideally through a drip irrigation system that penetrates the soil to at least 12 inches. 

Additionally, mulching around trees will help insulate them during a drought, keeping water in the soil and preventing evaporation.

How Pearce Lawn Care Can Help

Tree maintenance is a big job. Florida trees can be extremely hardy, but it doesn’t mean they don’t need support and ongoing care. Trees differ from other landscape plants and shrubs due to their size, and you will likely find that you need help from a knowledgeable Florida tree service provider. Pearce Lawn Care offers proper tree care services that keep your palms and other trees in excellent health. Check out our tree and shrub care services, and contact us for a free quote today!