Tree & Shrub Health Care in Dana Point, CA

A tree that looks tired is usually telling you something. The soil may be compacted, the roots may be buried too deep, the watering may be wrong for the species, or insects may have moved in. Tree and shrub health care starts by looking for that cause.

Luna Tree provides tree and shrub health care in Dana Point, CA and across South Orange County from our home base in Capistrano Beach. Our arborists inspect your trees and shrubs, explain what they find and recommend the care they need. Estimates are free. Call 949-240-5925 to schedule a visit.

Call an arborist if you notice any of these:

Every health care visit starts with an inspection. An arborist walks your property and looks at each tree and shrub from the ground up: the soil and root zone, the base of the trunk, the bark, the branch structure and the leaves. We look for signs of stress, pests, disease and structural weakness.

Afterwards you get our recommendations: what we found and what we suggest doing about it.

Most landscape problems start below ground. Soil around homes is often compacted by foot traffic and construction, low in organic matter, or covered by lawn and hardscape that compete with tree roots for water and nutrients. Better soil means stronger roots, and stronger roots mean a healthier tree.

Deep-root feeding delivers nutrients into the root zone, below the lawn, where tree roots can take them up.

Where soil is compacted or poor, we work in soil amendments to improve its structure and drainage.

A layer of mulch over the root zone keeps the soil cooler, holds moisture between waterings and feeds the soil as it breaks down. Mulch should be kept pulled back from the trunk, because mulch piled against the bark invites rot and pests.

Insects and diseases tend to go after trees that are already stressed. We identify what is affecting the tree or shrub and treat the pest or disease. The stress behind the problem, such as watering, soil or pruning, often matters as much as the treatment itself.

The root collar is where the trunk flares out into the main roots. When it is buried under soil, mulch or turf, the bark stays damp, which can lead to rot, and roots can start to wrap around the trunk and choke it. These are called girdling roots. A buried root collar can weaken a tree for years while it still looks fine from above.

Root collar excavation carefully clears the excess soil away from the base of the trunk so the flare is exposed again, and the base of the trunk can be checked for decay and girdling roots.

Trees near the coast in Dana Point, San Clemente and Laguna Beach deal with conditions inland trees don’t: salt air and wind that can burn leaves, dry Santa Ana winds, long dry seasons and watering limits. Irrigation causes problems in both directions. Lawn sprinklers can keep the base of a tree wet all year, while drip lines sized for shrubs often leave a mature tree’s roots dry.

Good times to have your trees and shrubs inspected are before the dry season, after a winter storm, after construction or landscaping near the roots, or any time you notice a change.