You may not think of it, but vegetation management is an important aspect of home ownership. Whether you have a tree growing too close to your house, or some overgrown brush in the yard that needs to be removed for safety reasons, vegetation management is something that should never be ignored. This blog post will cover everything you need to know about managing any type of vegetation on your property, brush clearing, and more so it doesn’t become a problem.
What Is Vegetation Management And Why Do I Need It?
The term vegetation management refers to the process of managing your landscape, including trimming trees and bushes, removal of invasive species like poison ivy or various weeds.
It also includes planting new plants, pruning existing ones and more. These activities can be done by professionals but many homeowners prefer to do it themselves as a cost-saving measure. There are two main reasons why you may need this type of landscaping service:
- Landscape aesthetics – for instance if there is an overgrown tree growing too close to your house that could harm its foundation in a storm or other natural disaster
- Safety concerns – if land clearing such as brush clearance needs to take place due to fire risk from dry vegetation
When Should You Start Managing Your Vegetation?
The best time to start implementing vegetation management is during the early stages of a project.
This will help you to better plan for and deal with various needs, such as tree removal or other landscaping tasks that need to be completed before the onset of winter in colder climates. This includes tasks such as:
- Brush clearance
- Pruning trees
- Planting new plants
- Clearing invasive species like poison ivy or weeds from your property
How To Manage Your Lawn
When it comes to vegetation management for your lawn, there are a number of things you can do to help ensure it’s healthy and aesthetically pleasing.
- Do not fertilize in the fall
- Fertilizing with nitrogen is best done in the spring before the onset of winter
- Weed control should be year round – either by hand pulling or using herbicides
Mowing height will vary depending on how much shade your property gets from trees/buildings but typically grasses grow taller when they’re shaded.
You may want to mow at an early stage so it doesn’t get too tall over time. This helps keep bugs away as well as keeps sunlight out which can cause turf diseases such as brown patch.
How To Manage Shrubs And Trees With Brush Clearing
The best way to make sure trees and shrubs are healthy is to keep them trimmed.
This keeps excess leaves, branches or other material from accumulating on the ground which will eventually rob nutrients out of the soil. It also helps prevent diseases in your plants by limiting pests such as aphids that would otherwise find a hospitable environment for growth.
When trimming large branches it’s best to do so at the branch union because they have more surface area than individual limbs. Pruning should always be done immediately after flowering ends. If you’re having trouble with insects like borers then spray any potential host plant with an appropriate insecticide if necessary.
As for watering plants, it is always best to water deeply and less often, because that will encourage deep root growth. This deeper rooting makes plants more drought tolerant.
When watering it is also important not to let the soil stay dry for too long. Plants can use their roots as an anchor in this way, but if they are left without any moisture then they become susceptible to disease or wind damage.
And don’t forget about pruning! Pruning should be done immediately after flowering ends. If you’re having trouble with insects like borers then spray any potential host plant with an appropriate insecticide if necessary.
Considerations For Fruit Trees And Bushes
Your fruit trees or bushes need to be trimmed regularly, but you should avoid cutting back too far.
A few simple brush clearing tips:
- If your fruit trees or bushes are more than four years old then you need to trim at least once a year
- Always cut the excess branches from side shoots and all of the branches growing directly under where they join with their respective tree trunk
- The idea is to leave some foliage on your plants so that it has access to nutrients and sunlight while also providing protection against diseases
The Importance Of Mulching Around Plants In Order To Maintain Moisture Levels In Soil
This might be surprising but mulching is actually pretty important if you want to maintain your plants. It will help decrease the amount of water needed for irrigation because it prevents evaporation, and in turn reduces water usage.
A quick reminder that mulch should be no more than three inches deep or else it may attract pests like rats and mice. Keep this in mind when deciding where to put your mulch too! A pile near a fence could lead to these unwanted guests making their way onto your property.
Contact Green Leaf Zone for Expert Vegetation Management in Los Angeles
With so many challenges and hazards to face when cutting brush and clearing trees, it might be best to hire a company with training and experience. Over the course of several years, Green Leaf Zone has been providing service in Los Angeles and beyond. And we are ready to help you as well.
For more info, contact Green Leaf Zone at (818) 452-3470 or email us at [email protected].
You can also fill out our form for a free consultation.