Five yard and garden resolutions for 2022
January 18, 2022

Cortese Tree Specialists shares advice for having your best yard ever

Cortese Tree specialist at work. Image courtesy of the Garden Media Group

When a new year comes around, home improvements are at the top of many lists. Your yard is your home’s “first impression,” the first thing people see when they visit. For your family, it’s a source of beauty and recreation, an extension of indoor living spaces, and a chance to express yourself creatively.

“A healthy, well-tended yard provides so many benefits to homeowners beyond mere beauty,” says Nick St. Sauveur, district manager with Cortese Tree Specialists in Knoxville. “When you put time and care into the trees and plants around your home, those trees repay the favor through lower utility bills, increased home values, and much-needed summer shade.”

But where to start? These five easy-to-DIY resolutions can help make 2022 your yard’s best year yet:

1. Create a plan. Use January to decide what changes your garden needs before spring arrives. A regular yard care schedule guarantees your shrubs and flowers get the consistent care they need to thrive. Add trees to your plan for any new garden plants in 2022 – they add height, visual appeal… and even home cost-saving benefits. The cooling shade in summer and the wind reduction in winter can reduce home energy bills by as much as 50%!

2. Inspect trees and shrubs for insects or disease. Mature trees increase property value by as much as 28%, per HouseLogic. But a tree shifts from asset to potential hazard when branches, trunks or roots are weak or damaged. Protect your family and home by inspecting trees and getting any problems checked out by a professional now- before a strong storm hits.

3. Prune in the winter. January is a great time to prune dead, diseased or broken branches to keep trees and shrubs strong and better able to withstand damage from severe weather events.

4. Plan to use mulch. Mulch conserves water, reduces weeds and provides an attractive ground cover when spring rolls around. A circle of mulch around trees keeps lawn mowers from damaging the roots and bark. Cover the drip-zone — areas directly beneath the tree’s foliage — with 1-3” of mulch and keep it 2-3" away from the trunk to discourage decay. Remember, tree roots need to breathe, so don’t mulch too deeply – create a donut instead of a volcano of mulch.

5. Make 2022 the year you go “water-wise". A few quick tips can help you reduce water usage in your yard. Water in the early morning when it’s cooler to avoid evaporation. Add native trees and plants– they’re well-suited to our local environment and can often better conserve water than nonnatives. Finally, keep your trees healthy in dry months by watering slowly and deeply in the drip zone.

Want to add these outdoor resolutions to your list this New Year? Call in professionals like Cortese Tree Specialists in Knoxville to inspect your trees this winter. Find your local office today www.cortesetree.com.

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental solutions for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners across North America. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the U.S., Davey has been dedicated to creating and delivering sustainable solutions for 140 years. Become part of the Davey legacy and apply today.