Waterloo Tree Pruning: 4 Trees That are High Maintenance

Trees offer many benefits, from beautiful autumn foliage to cooling shade. However, not every species is easy to tend to — in fact, some are so complicated they require the attention of a professional tree service. Of course, just because a tree is high-maintenance doesn’t mean it’s not worth cultivating. The following four are excellent examples of trees that need a little extra care and are fantastic additions to your yard.

1. Silver Maple

This species can thrive in temperate climates but struggles if temperatures fall below 30 degrees. It can live up to 130 years with the proper care and offers gorgeous red and yellow foliage as the weather cools. Silver maples are dormant during the early spring and winter, making these the best times to prune the following:

• Dead branches
• Diseased limbs
• Broken branches

Since silver maples can reach 100 feet in height, it’s crucial to trim away problematic boughs, as they risk falling. A large branch through your roof or on your car is an expensive mess to clean up.

Silver maples also require a lot of water when first planted. The soil must remain moist, or the tree can’t establish the necessary roots to flourish.

2. Weeping Willow

Weeping willows are unique and often referenced in classic literature for their symbolism. In real life, weeping willows are prone to problems, especially as they grow older. Regular watering and fertilizing are essential to keeping this species healthy, as it can survive even multiple issues with leaves and branches as long as the main tree remains strong. Of course, you must nip trouble in the bud to give your willow the best chance at thriving.

One common problem is willow scab disease, a fungus that starts on the leaves and works down to the trunk. Dark spots and spore masses are the tell-tale signs and can transform your tree into an ugly mess. Keeping this disease at bay requires pruning infected limbs and sterilizing gardening equipment afterward.

3. Norway Maple

Though beautiful, Norway maples are an invasive species if not carefully tended to. While other trees on this list need the care to thrive, Norway maples have the opposite problem — they’re a little too fruitful in most areas of the U.S.

This species creates seed fruits, also called samaras, that can travel great distances in the wind. Pruning samara-producing boughs before the seeds mature are essential to preventing unintentional spread. Since Norway Maples are so hardy, they easily supplant native trees, putting ecosystems in danger. Owning one of these magnificent trees is a big responsibility, so if you’re not keen on this level of maintenance, you should choose a different maple.

4. Eastern Cottonwood

It’s best to check with your municipality before planting an eastern cottonwood, as some places have banned them due to their spring-time mess. As a dioecious plant, the eastern cottonwood has male and female varieties, the latter of which produce cotton-like seed material that drifts on the wind. It also covers the ground, gathers on window sills and clogs gutters. If you plant this species, anticipate cleanup every year.

Additionally, eastern cottonwoods are famously dangerous to buildings. Their wood tends to be brittle due to their fast growth, making fallen branches a serious concern. Pruning broken or vulnerable boughs are critical to preventing property damage, though it’s best to place cottonwoods far from buildings just in case.

Eastern cottonwood roots pose another problem, as they can disrupt underground pipes. You should closely monitor this species as it grows to prevent disruption to underground systems.

Before you search “tree service near me,” check out Martin’s Tree Service. Our experts can clear lots for new growth, care for sick trees and even remove stumps. You can learn more or request a free quote by calling or contacting us online.