Best arborists near Monroe City, MO

Completely topping a plum tree is a risky business. Cut too much, and you’ll kill your tree. That said, you do need to trim the top of your tree to encourage bushy growth, maintain your tree’s vase shape, and limit size. 

A plum tree's central leader (or trunk) should never extend more than 3 feet above the highest branch. When you first plant your tree, cut the central leader so it’s 2 to 3 feet tall. As it grows, cut it back 12 to 20 inches until it reaches its desired height. Never prune more than one-third of the new growth.

In most ways, palm trees are incredibly low-maintenance. They don’t need a ton of water—which is why they’re so beloved in desert regions—and they basically prune themselves. But they do need an ample supply of sunlight and to be in soil that will allow for proper drainage so that their roots don’t become waterlogged and at risk of developing illnesses.

If the plant begins to wilt, develop spots, or change color, these could all be signs that your palm tree has a disease. But a few basic treatments, like pruning and applying fungicide, will usually be more than enough to return it to perfect health.

Sudden oak death and oak wilt are different diseases. Oak wilt first shows up in tree leaves while sudden oak death affects the branches and trunk. However, as symptoms in both can overlap, it’s best to consult a professional arborist tree expert for a proper diagnosis and development of a treatment plan.

There are a few differences between tree guying and tree staking. Tree guying requires anchor stakes that are shorter and stronger than regular stakes and are driven deeper into the ground at an angle away from the tree. Tree staking uses longer stakes that are set parallel to the tree and are used for smaller trees. Consult a local tree professional to determine which method is best for your tree.