Fertilizer and root-health products, deep-root watering aids, insect and disease control sprays, lawn-safe weed control for the beds around trees, and hand tools for pruning cover most of the DIY tree care a homeowner is likely to handle without hiring a professional.

What Fertilizer and Root-Health Products Support DIY Tree Care?

• General fertilizer: Shop TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer, a balanced, slow-release formula built to support root development, disease resistance, and overall tree vitality across most species rather than one specific tree type.
• Root-colonizing fungi: Shop TreeHelp Mycorrhizal Treatment, a granular soil additive applied through holes drilled around the base of the tree. The fungi form a symbiotic relationship with the roots that improves water and nutrient uptake, helping a tree withstand drought, temperature extremes, and soil deficiencies. One treatment covers a single mature tree or two to three smaller, newly planted specimens.

What Product Helps With Deep Root Watering for Young or Newly Planted Trees?

Shop the Treegator Original Slow Release Watering Bag for slow, steady water delivery at the root zone. It holds 15 gallons as a single bag or 23.5 gallons in a double-bag setup, and most new plantings only need a refill every five to seven days. The bag fits trees from 1 to 8 inches in trunk diameter, with branches at least 25 inches from the ground.

Which Sprays Cover the Most Common Chewing and Sucking Insects?

• Chewing pests: Shop Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad, a fermentation-based, OMRI-approved treatment covering caterpillars, leafminers, borers on stone fruit trees, and more, remaining effective on foliage for three to four weeks without significantly harming beneficial insects.
• Soft-bodied pests: Shop Horticultural Oil Insect Spray, which smothers rather than poisons and is diluted differently for growing-season and dormant-season use against mites, scale, aphids, and several other soft-bodied pests.
• Heavier infestations: Shop Bug Buster II Insect Spray, for faster knockdown, a synthetic pyrethroid spray that controls a broad list of pests, including aphids, leafhoppers, and Japanese beetles, applied as a general perimeter and foliage spray.

Which Systemic Treatments Handle Borers and Deeper Infestations Without Spraying?

• No foliage spraying required: Shop the Multi-Insect Killer Tree Injection Kit, which reaches pests living inside the bark through trunk injection, delivering insecticide directly into holes drilled at the root flare for season-long control.
• Root drench alternative: Shop Once-A-Year Insecticidal Drench w/Merit, providing 12 months of protection against borers, scale, leafhoppers, and several other pests from a single mix-and-pour application at the base of the tree.

Which Product Addresses Common Fungal Tree Diseases?

Shop Liquid Copper Fungicide Spray, a broad-spectrum preventive and curative treatment that controls anthracnose, bacterial leaf spot, fireblight, apple scab, powdery mildew, and several other diseases across a range of tree species. One pint treats at least five to six large trees, though the product can react with metal and masonry surfaces and is worth testing on a small area first, since it can cause foliage discoloration on sensitive plants.

Can Weed Control Products Be Used Safely Near Trees and Shrubs?

Not directly on or around them. Shop Spurge Power Weed Control, a postemergence herbicide built exclusively for turf and lawn areas, controlling more than 75 weeds including spotted spurge, clover, and dandelion — but its own label warns against use in ornamental beds, flowers, trees, and shrubs, and advises avoiding any drift onto them. A homeowner clearing spurge from the lawn surrounding a tree still needs to keep the spray confined to the grass itself, not the root zone or canopy drip line.

What Tool Helps With Pruning High Branches Without a Ladder?

Shop the TreeHelp Rope Saw: Homeowner for a 50-foot reach, split across two 25-foot ropes, letting a homeowner cut branches from the ground. Its 24-inch Bimatic carbon steel chain blade cuts from three sides at once, avoiding the need to climb or run a chainsaw overhead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad Safe for Organic Gardening?

Yes, Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad is OMRI-approved for organic gardening use.

How Often Does a Treegator Watering Bag Need to Be Refilled?

Every five to seven days covers most new plantings using the Treegator Original Slow Release Watering Bag.

Can Spurge Power Weed Control Be Sprayed Directly Under a Tree?

No, Spurge Power Weed Control is labelled for turf only, and its instructions specifically warn against use in ornamental beds, trees, and shrubs, or letting spray drift onto them.

Does the TreeHelp Mycorrhizal Treatment Work on Any Tree Species?

Yes, the general-purpose TreeHelp Mycorrhizal Treatment is formulated for species that don't have their own dedicated version, covering one mature tree or two to three smaller specimens per treatment.

How Far Can the TreeHelp Rope Saw: Homeowner Reach Into a Tree Canopy? 

Fifty feet total, from two 25-foot rope lengths, is the reach of the TreeHelp Rope Saw: Homeowner.

How Many Large Trees Does One Bottle of Liquid Copper Fungicide Spray Treat? 

Five to six large trees is the coverage from a single pint of Liquid Copper Fungicide Spray.