Test Your Arborist Skills with DIY Tree Care Tips

Does your tree look like it needs some help? Learn essential DIY tree care tips and when it’s time to call an arborist to keep

Arborist from Arbor Pro in Portland climbing and pruning a large tree.
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    Keeping trees healthy and beautiful should be a goal for any Portland homeowner. But to do this requires regular maintenance and preventative care, as neglected trees in urban and suburban environments can struggle, die, and become safety hazards.

    But proper tree care requires knowledge, skill, and the right approach—especially in Portland’s unique climate, where trees face challenges from changing rain patterns and occasional dry summers.

    While professional arborists are ideal for ensuring safety and tree health, many Portland homeowners prefer hands-on tree care. Before tackling maintenance yourself, it’s important to assess your arborist skills. This guide will help you evaluate your abilities, provide you with DIY tree care tips, and recognize when to call tree care experts.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Regular tree maintenance, including proper pruning and watering, is essential for keeping your Portland trees healthy and preventing potential hazards.
    • Understanding your tree species and soil type helps you provide tailored care that meets the specific needs of your trees.
    • Early detection of pests and diseases through regular inspections can save your trees and prevent issues from spreading to other plants in your yard.
    • Proper mulching practices protect tree roots, regulate soil temperature, and conserve moisture, contributing significantly to overall tree health.
    • Let certified arborists handle complex or dangerous tasks, like pruning large trees, dealing with severe infestations, or tree removals.

    1. Basic Tree Care Knowledge

    Each tree has unique needs for watering, pruning, and overall care. By knowing your tree type and understanding your tree’s specific needs, you can provide the optimal care to ensure its health and longevity.

    Understanding Your Tree Species

    Identifying your trees is the first step in proper care. Portland is home to a diverse collection of native trees and introduced species, each with unique needs. For example, some trees handle dry summers better than others, and will alter your tree care strategies.

    First off, to identify your trees:

    • Use tree identification books or brochures
    • Try smartphone apps that identify trees from photos

    Do you know the types of trees on your property? If you don’t, take some time to identify them.

    Tree Growth Patterns & Health Indicators

    Healthy trees exhibit strong, even, lush growth. Keep an eye on the canopy: a full, dense crown with evenly distributed branches is a sign of a healthy tree.

    If the canopy looks sparse or uneven, or if you see discolored leaves or wilting branches, this could indicate disease, drought stress, pest infestation, or other issues. Many of these problems can be addressed if caught early.

    Get familiar with how your specific tree species should look when healthy, and what their first signs of distress are. Catching and addressing problems early gives you the best chance to save trees.

    Signs of distress to watch for:

    • Sparse or uneven canopies
    • Discolored leaves
    • Wilting branches
    • Premature leaf drop

    Do you know what your trees should look like when they’re healthy, and what they do when they are under stress? If not, take some time to familiarize yourself with your trees so you can catch and address problems early, giving you the best chance to save trees.

    Arborists from Arbor Pro pruning a large tree at a home near Portland, OR.

    2. Prune the Right Way

    Pruning is fundamental for tree maintenance. Young trees need yearly pruning to guide growth into a straight, single leader, while mature trees require pruning every 2-5 years to remove deadwood, hazardous branches, and overgrowth. Before attempting DIY tree pruning, ask yourself the following:

    Is It the Right Time to Prune?

    Timing matters. For many Portland trees, winter pruning is ideal to minimize stress and reduce disease spread. Some species, like maples, prefer late summer pruning. Avoid pruning during hot, dry periods, when trees are already under extensive drought stress.

    Do You Have the Right Equipment?

    Pruning can be dangerous. To stay safe, make sure you have:

    • Helmet and safety goggles
    • Cut-resistant gloves
    • A support person when using ladders

    When it comes time to make cuts, use sharp, clean tools like bypass pruners, loppers, and pruning saws. For larger jobs, a pole saw may be necessary.

    Do You Know What to Cut, and How?

    Proper cutting technique is very important to minimize the size of wounds on the tree, as well as their recovery time.

    Focus on these key areas:

    • Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches first
    • Remove branches that cross or rub, as they create wounds which can turn into infections
    • Cut just outside the branch collar, where the branch connects to the trunk
    • Avoid over-pruning: Removing too much foliage can reduce photosynthesis and harm the tree
    • Consult a professional if you’re ever unsure about what to cut

    When Should You Call an Arborist for Help?

    Call a certified arborist for:

    • Large trees
    • Complex pruning jobs
    • Trees near power lines or structures
    • Tree diseases or hazardous branches
    • Important trees that you don’t want to risk harming or killing

    Recognizing your limits helps keep both you and your trees safe.

    Do you have the appropriate pruning and safety equipment required? If not, invest in quality equipment before cutting a single branch, or better yet, hire an arborist and keep you and your trees healthy.

    3. Tree Watering Best Practices

    Proper watering is one of the most important tree care tasks if you want to keep your trees thriving year-round. With Portland’s contrasting climate, from mild, rainy winters to dry, hot summers, this can be challenging.

    Summer is very stressful for most trees in Portland, but overwatering your tree can be just as detrimental to its health as underwatering.

    Signs of overwatering:

    • Yellowing leaves
    • Standing water around tree base

    Signs of drought stress:

    • Curling leaves
    • Browning leaf edges

    Do your trees need supplemental watering in the summer? If so, consider buying a soaker hose to make it easy to water trees deeply and slowly. This ensures more water reaches the roots before it evaporates. Trees typically need deep watering once a week during hot, dry periods.

    4. Caring for the Soil and Roots

    Healthy soil is the foundation for healthy trees. Portland’s soils vary from sandy loams to heavy clays. Understanding your soil type helps adjust your tree care approach:

    • Clay soil: Retains moisture, needs less frequent watering
    • Sandy soil: Drains quickly, requires more frequent watering

    A simple soil test can determine if your soil is sandy, loamy, or clay-based, and what nutrients may be lacking in your yard, helping tailor your care plan.

    Fertilization

    Not all trees need fertilization, but if your trees need a boost, you should:

    • Use slow-release fertilizers to feed the tree over time
    • Fertilize in spring and fall with appropriate nutrients (you don’t want to add nitrogen in the fall, as this encourages new growth, which can be damaged by winter weather)
    • Avoid fertilizing during summer heat or drought stress

    Consider hiring a professional for deep root fertilization. Using specialized equipment, tree care professionals can apply fertilizers directly to the root zone to maximize nutrient uptake and minimize runoff.

    Protect Soil and Roots with Mulch

    Mulching is simple but extremely important for tree health. Foundational benefits include:

    • Regulating soil temperature
    • Conserving soil moisture
    • Protecting tree roots from erosion or damage by lawn mowers
    • Reducing risk of soil compaction

    To ensure your trees receive these benefits, apply mulch properly:

    • Apply a 2–3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips, shredded bark, or pine needles
    • Keep the mulch at least a few inches away from the trunk to reduce risk of rot
    • Extend your mulch ring out at least a few feet up to the edge of the tree’s canopy

    Does your soil contain the necessary nutrients needed for proper tree growth? If you aren’t sure, have your soil tested, and provide the necessary soil amendments or fertilizers to feed your trees.

    A tree damaged by boring insects, just outside of Portland, Oregon.

    Extensive damage done by boring insects.

    5. Dealing With Tree Pest and Disease Problems

    Portland’s trees face many threats from pests and diseases. Early detection and treatment are key to maintaining tree health. Some common issues to watch for include:

    • Dutch elm disease
    • Verticillium wilt
    • Pine bark beetles
    • Emerald ash borer
    • Apple scab
    • Anthracnose
    • Oak leaf blister
    • Root rot

    Treatment Options for Affected Trees

    When tree diseases or pest infestations take hold of your trees, a quick response is essential. The most common forms of treatment include:

    • Pruning: Remove infected or damaged branches to minimize disease spread.
    • Insecticides and Fungicides: Use targeted treatments to eliminate pests or fungi.
    • Trunk Injection: Professionals can inject chemicals directly into the tree for severe infestations.
    • Tree Removal: If the tree can’t be saved, removal may be necessary to prevent hazards and reduce the risk of spreading to other healthy trees.

    How to Prevent Tree Pest & Disease Problems

    Keeping trees healthy is the best way to prevent pest and disease problems from harming your tree. Reduce risk of issues through:

    • Regular Pruning: Remove dead or damaged branches and improve air circulation.
    • Deep Root Watering: Encourage strong root growth and reduce stress.
    • Mulching: Retain soil moisture and protect tree roots.
    • Soil Health: Consider fertilization and soil amendments to provide trees with steady stream of nutrients.
    • Tree Inspections: Check your trees regularly to ensure ongoing health and catch pests and diseases early.

    Do you know how to identify common tree pests or fungal infections? Learning how to do so can help you save trees that may otherwise fail in a matter of months or years.

    6. Tree Removal

    Sometimes, even with the best care, a tree must be removed. This may be due to disease, severe damage, old age, or when trees become a hazard to people and property. Signs your tree should be removed include:

    • A hollow trunk
    • Large dead branches
    • Trunk decay
    • Fungus or mushrooms growing near the base of the tree
    • A tree that leans suddenly after a storm

    The sooner you remove a tree dead or hazardous tree, the easier it is to take down. When a tree is left to decay, it becomes unstable and dangerous, making removal much more difficult and riskier.

    The Arbor Pro team removing a tree that is dangerously close to a home in Portland, OR.

    Safety Considerations

    Tree removal is a dangerous task, especially for large trees or those near homes or power lines. Even for smaller trees, DIY removal should generally be avoided. This job is best handled by ISA-certified arborists and trained safety professionals.

    Tree removal risks include:

    • Personal injury or death
    • Costly damage to your property or neighboring properties
    • Legal liability for any damages caused

    Professional tree care companies like Arbor Pro are fully insured for tree work, providing peace of mind in the unlikely event something goes wrong. If you’re considering removal yourself, carefully assess:

    • Your safety gear and equipment
    • Potential risks to your home and surroundings
    • Your ability to cover the cost of any potential damages

    Are you prepared for the potential consequences of a tree removal gone wrong? When life and property are at stake, it’s better to err on the side of caution. At minimum, get a free professional tree removal quote to understand your options before felling a tree on your own.

    7. When to Call a Professional Arborist

    While DIY tree care can be rewarding, there are times when it’s best to leave things to the experts. Large tree removals, complex pruning jobs, and severe pest infestations often require the expertise and equipment of a certified arborist. Hiring a professional not only ensures the job is done safely but also protects the long-term health of your trees.

    If you truly value your trees, give them the best care you can provide. Call our Certified Arborists today at 503-473-8733 and we’ll provide you with a free tree care quote, and recommendations on how to best care for your specific trees.