Trees can be a highly valuable addition to a commercial landscape, beautifying store fronts, shading outdoor areas, and enhancing customers’ shopping experiences, all of which can significantly increase a business’ customer traffic flow and profitability. Numerous studies have shown that tree-lined store fronts attract more shoppers who feel more relaxed and comfortable in an urban forest environment. These customers are more likely to linger in stores longer and make more purchases - even paying higher prices afforded by a greener image that they perceive as higher end. Planting trees also has practical benefits, aiding businesses in reducing energy costs and lowering their carbon footprint. Overall trees can raise a business’ profile by sending a positive message that resonates with a customer base, signaling both commitment to the local community and concern for the global environment.
Challenges and rewards facing a commercial urban tree-scape
Many commercial properties come with a considerable set of challenges for growing healthy trees – compacted and infertile urban soils, limited access to water and growing space, along with heat island effects caused by streets, parking lots, sidewalks and buildings – all of which can contribute to health and mortality issues that can make trees short lived and difficult to maintain. Some tree species may be inappropriate for many locations, causing pavements to upheave, interfering with utility lines, blocking views and creating obstacles for cars and pedestrians.
These issues can be daunting, and potentially expensive if managed improperly - but when planned carefully, the maintenance costs for commercial trees are far outweighed by the overall financial gains resulting from the increased curb appeal and benefits of a tree-lined storefront. Working with your local Monster Tree Service tree care experts can give your business the critical edge to overcome the challenges associated with commercial tree care, so your business property’s treescape stays green, vibrant and beautiful - continuing to attract customers, offering valuable returns on your investment and increasing your business’ overall bottom line.
Finding the perfect tree for your commercial space
Choosing an ideal tree can complete the perfect picture for an inviting storefront. Many ornamental trees that do particularly well in many street environments, such as serviceberries, linden trees, fringe trees, flowering cherries, crabapples, and crape myrtles offer beautiful blooms that are sure to attract attention and invite customers. Shade from a maple, oak, or black gum can be a welcome sight to shoppers seeking relief from the hot summer sun and draw them into your business.
Keeping these trees healthy and beautiful takes ongoing care. This article will give you a list of things to consider in making the best tree selections, and a clear understanding of how professional and qualified pruning, soil and plant health care, and general maintenance are critical to ensure your store front trees stay vibrant and thriving.
Avoiding “tree-pitfalls” - Careful planning and selection can ensure the success of commercial tree plantings.
A number of factors are important to remember when choosing a tree species for a business location. The phrase “Right Tree, Right Place” is especially applicable in urban commercial areas where there tend to be limitations in space and potential conflicts with buildings, streets and sidewalks, underground pipes, and overhead utility lines. Understanding a tree species’ mature height, width, and form is important when selecting a tree to avoid future clearance issues and lower pruning costs. A tree’s foliage density is another thing to consider, as a tree with an excessively dense crown may block a store front’s view, making it difficult to see or recognize.
Consider that among some tree species a number of cultivars may have altered growth habits that make them more suitable for street planting with restricted space. An ‘Armstrong’ red maple for instance has a narrow, upright growing habit that may make it more suitable for a tight space than an ‘October Glory’. Cultivar choice can also influence a tree’s resistance to some common tree diseases that many species may be more susceptible to in a stressful urban environment. In addition, planning for species diversity is key to managing tree health, as planting multiple species on a street, shopping mall, or business park also increases resistance and resiliency to pest and disease attacks that may otherwise be fostered in a monocultured landscape planted with only one or very few tree species.
Make room for roots
Being aware of the space allotted to a tree underground is very important, and the growth patterns of a tree species’ root system should be considered when making a selection. Some trees such as beeches and sycamores are infamous for having surface roots that upheave sidewalks; and other species such as willows are well known for invading underground pipes and sewer lines. However, there are trees, such as oaks and black gums, that tend to have fewer spreading surface roots and grow a deeper taproot which may make them more desirable for a building front with restricted rooting space.
A tree’s tolerance for harsh soil conditions common to urban and commercial settings should also be taken into consideration. Urban soils tend to be dry and compacted, which makes them unsuitable for many trees – though there are many species that are adapted to poor soil conditions and are more ideal candidates for urban and commercial plantings. Local University Extensions have recommendations for urban tree plantings suitable to your region, as do many community forestry and nature conservation websites.
Giving your tree its best start - Proper planting is critical to tree health and survivability
As important as making the right tree choice for your location may be, planting it correctly is equally critical to ensuring its future health and survivability. Improper planting can cause severe health issues that may be impossible to reverse which can result in tree decline, branch dieback, disease and pest attacks, and premature death of a tree - winding up in unwanted costs in pruning, pest treatments and tree replacements. Working with an ISA Certified Arborist or your Monster Tree Service is a great way to make sure your tree is planted correctly and give your tree its best start for future success!
When planting, here are a few key points to remember
To take the guessing out of tree planting, Monster Tree Service certified arborists and plant health care professionals offer professional planting services that can ensure your trees are planted correctly and are on the best path for future health. But if you are thinking of planting a tree yourself or hiring a landscaper, here are a few things to consider.
One of the most common errors with tree planting is planting a tree too deeply and burying what is called its root collar or root flare. This happens especially with a balled and bur lapped (B&B) tree or a containerized tree which may have a root flare that has already been buried by a few inches. All B&B and containerized trees should have their root flare located and uncovered prior to planting. When the tree is positioned in the ground, the root flare should be just above grade and remain slightly exposed after planting.
Planting holes, where possible, should be dug to a width that exceeds the diameter of the tree’s root ball by 3 times. Excessively bent, kinked or circling roots should also be located and pruned away from the tree prior to planting.
After planting – the importance of aftercare, mulching, watering, pruning and regular maintenance for commercial trees
Even with the best selected trees, success does not stop with installation but requires a commitment to ongoing care and maintenance. Working with a consulting arborist at your local Monster Tree Service can ensure that all your tree aftercare requirements are met - keeping your trees healthy, beautiful and trouble-free.
For general maintenance, remember that after planting, watering and proper mulching are especially important to keep trees healthy, promote growth and establishment, and ward off pest and disease attacks. Hardwood mulches dress up a tree’s appearance, protect tree roots and add valuable organic matter to soil. When mulching, be careful of adding too much of a good thing and avoid over mulching trees or burying tree trunks with a deep mound of mulch. Often referred to as “mulch volcanoes”, overly high mounds of mulch can result in the suffocation and strangulation of a tree. Consult with your Monster arborist to check that your trees are mulched correctly.
Professional maintenance pruning is critically important
Proper pruning is one of the best ways to keep your trees healthy and looking their best, but trees can also be permanently damaged or disfigured by improper pruning. Working with a qualified professional is key to pruning trees to achieve their optimum health - Monster Tree Service’s certified arborists are trusted experts who can advise you on all your commercial property’s pruning needs.
Scheduling regular maintenance pruning services is important. As they grow, trees should be monitored for potential structural defects that may predispose them to health issues and failure risks. These defects can be pruned out early before they become bigger problems in the future and require more costly remediation. Periodic maintenance pruning may also be necessary to thin canopies to promote air and light circulation and retain visibility and clearance from buildings, streets and sidewalks, as required by local municipal codes.
Professional Soil and Plant Health Care give your commercial trees the best advantage
Since trees tend to be subject to more severe stress being grown in commercial environments, professional soil and plant health care can give them the inside advantage to meet these demands head on. Your local Monster Tree Service offers a full range of Plant Health Care programs, utilizing cutting-edge applications that are tailored to meet the challenges of urban environments to keep your trees thriving. Our Soil Health Care program gets to the roots of tree health from the ground up, optimizing soil nutrition and maximizing water availability. Our Certified Arborists know the tree species local to your area, understand their growth requirements, and recognize the key pests and diseases that frequently threaten commercial treescapes. Our Plant Health Care Specialists have cutting-edge science backed solutions that offer the most targeted and environmentally responsible treatments that protect your trees and safeguard your community and the environment.
Monster Tree Service’s commitment to your commercial business
Just like your business, your local Monster Tree Service is locally owned and operated and is committed to serving you and your community by offering the industry’s highest standards in tree care. Put your trust in Monster Tree Service’s tree care experts - keeping your trees healthy, thriving and beautiful - so that they continue to serve your business as valued and productive assets for many years to come.