Happy Valen-TREE-n’s Day: Show Your Trees Some Love
Valentine’s Day is coming up, and while your trees aren’t asking for roses or chocolate… they are hoping you’ll stop ignoring those dead branches and that one limb that’s been side-eyeing your roof since last season.
Because in North Texas, “tree love” looks a lot like proper pruning, plant health care, and proactive maintenance.
So let’s make it official: this is your sign to take your trees on a little wellness date.
Step 1: Acknowledge the Relationship (Your Trees Have Been Doing the Most)
Your trees work year-round—shade in summer, curb appeal all the time, and a whole lot of “holding it together” through wind, heat, and unpredictable weather.
The least we can do is check in.
And no, this doesn’t require you to become a “tree person.” It just takes a few minutes and the willingness to look up.
Step 2: Learn Your Tree’s Love Language
If trees had a dating profile, it would read:
Likes: clean cuts, healthy soil, safe structure
Dislikes: random hacks, and “we’ll deal with it later”
Proper pruning isn’t a buzzcut—it’s a thoughtful, strategic tune-up that helps your tree grow stronger, safer, and better shaped over time.
What proper pruning actually does
- Removes dead, damaged, or risky limbs
- Reduces branch rubbing and weak attachments
- Improves airflow and canopy balance
- Supports long-term structure and stability
- Helps reduce the chance of breakage during high winds
What pruning should not look like
If the goal is “make it smaller fast,” that’s usually where trouble starts. Over-thinning and topping can stress a tree and trigger weak regrowth. In other words: it’s not love, it’s chaos.
Step 3: Spot the Green Flags (and the Red Flags)
Trees don’t text you when something’s wrong. They communicate in… vibes.
Here’s what to look for:
Green flags (healthy energy)
- Even canopy (in-season) with normal growth
- Strong branch structure with good spacing
- No major cracks, splits, or peeling bark
- Leaves look normal for the season
Red flags (it’s complicated)
- Deadwood in the canopy
- Large limbs hanging over the roof, driveway, or sidewalks
- Thinning canopy, early leaf drop, or “why does it look sad?”
- Mushrooms or fungus near the base (can signal decay)
- Large cracks, cavities, or areas that look weakened
- Mistletoe clusters multiplying
If you’re seeing red flags, you may need more than trimming—you may need plant health care.
Step 4: Plant Health Care Is the Real “Self-Care Routine”
Think of plant health care (PHC) like preventative care for your trees. It focuses on keeping your trees healthy long-term—not just shaping them up.
Depending on what’s going on, PHC can include:
- Soil and nutrient support
- Stress recovery (after drought, heat, construction, or damage)
- Diagnosis and treatment for insects and disease
- Root zone care (because roots are the whole foundation)
In other words: PHC is a wellness plan for your trees.
Step 5: Take the 10-Minute Valen-TREE-n’s Walkaround
Grab your coffee, take a lap around the yard, and do this quick check:
- Look up:Do you see dead limbs or hangers?
- Roofline scan:Anything touching or overhanging key roof areas?
- Trunk check:Cracks, splits, missing bark, odd bulges?
- Base check:Mushrooms/fungus, heaving soil, exposed roots?
- Canopy check:Is it crowded, uneven, or thinning?
If anything makes you pause, trust that instinct. Trees usually show signs before they fail.
Why This Matters in North Texas
North Texas weather can be rough on trees—especially when you combine heat stress, sudden storms, and strong wind events.
Proactive care helps reduce the risk of:
- Storm-related branch failure
- Emergency removals
- Property damage
- Losing mature trees that add real value to your home
And honestly? A healthy tree looks better, grows better, and causes fewer surprises.
Let Plano Tree Care Inc. Be Your Tree’s “Relationship Coach”
If you want your trees to look great and stay safe, Plano Tree Care Inc. can help with:
- Proper pruning and structural pruning
- Roof clearance and safety pruning
- Plant health care and treatment planning
- Evaluations for deadwood, decay, and risk
Ready to show your trees some love?
Call Plano Tree Care Inc. at 214-502-8375 to schedule a visit or request an estimate.
