Top Tips for Caring for Your Sissoo Trees

You grab a glass of lemonade, lay out a blanket, open your favorite book, and spend some time enjoying the warm, Arizona weather under the comfort of your sissoo tree. The large branches don’t just create a wide canopy of shade, but they’re also an eye-catching statement piece of your yard.

But your sissoo tree won’t get there on its own.

You’ll have to roll up your sleeves and give it a bit of help along the way. Are you worried about your lack of gardening experience? Don’t be. You don’t need it.

We’ve put together this guide to show you how to take care of your sissoo tree and let you know when it might be time to let it go. Keep reading below for some helpful tips!

Don’t Overwater Your Sissoo Tree

One of the easiest mistakes to make while caring for a sissoo tree is overwatering. These trees do well in hot, desert climates, so they don’t need a lot of water. Too much water will end up doing more harm than good.

For young sissoo trees (or newly-planted sissoo trees), water them every other day for a few minutes at a time. You want your tree to get about 8 to 10 gallons of water during each session, so depending on the size of your hose and the speed of your water pressure, you might need to let it sit for a while.

After a few weeks, you can start reducing how often you water. You can get down to watering once or twice a week for longer segments.

That said, it’s better to err on the side of less water than more water. Sissoo trees are very good at finding water, and their roots grow both deep and wide.

Plant in Full Sun or Partial Shade

Sissoo trees thrive best in zones 10 to 11 on the USDA plant hardiness map. Because of this, make sure you plant them in an area that gets a lot of sunlight. While they can deal with partial shade, they still require a lot of natural light.

Do you live in an area of Phoenix or Arizona that gets cold temperatures during the winter?

This could kill young sissoo trees, so you might want to look into different species. Even mature sissoos can end up in bad shape if they get too cold.

Prune the Lower Branches

Sissoo trees provide wide canopies and thick shade, but they might need a bit of help getting there. Chop off any low branches to help lift the growth of the limbs. You may also want to remove any branches that are broken or weak. This will prevent them from dropping during a storm or strong winds and damaging your property.

Pull out the Rake During Winter

Sissoo trees are only partially-evergreen, meaning they will drop some of their leaves in the winter. While they won’t be completely bald, you’ll still have a lot of leaves gathering in your yard. To upkeep the beauty of your landscaping, you’ll need to spend some time raking them up and disposing of them.

Caring for Sissoo Trees: Fixing Common Problems

As long as they’re getting the right amount of water, sissoo trees don’t need a lot of other attention. If your tree is looking a little shabby or discolored, there’s usually a simple way to fix the problem.

Sparse Leafs

Your sissoo tree will have trouble producing a full canopy of leaves if it doesn’t have proper irrigation. If you think your tree’s leaves are too thin, you should give it some deep irrigation.

Yellow Leafs

Yellow leaves are a sign that your soil doesn’t have enough iron uptake. To fix this problem, fertilize your tree with chelate and magnesium sulfate mixtures once or twice a year.

Brown-Tipped Leaves

Brown-tipped leaves can mean a few different things. First of all, you might not be watering deep enough, leaving the roots thirsty. However, brown leaves might be a warning of bigger trouble, such as disease. (We’ll touch on that more below.)

Pests, Sap, and Unusual Growths

Have you noticed a lot of excess sap, pests, or strange growths (such as knots) on your tree? It might be sick or infested with harmful bugs.

The best way to nurse your tree back to health is to talk to an arborist. They’ll be able to diagnose the problem and tell you what steps you should take next.

Are Sissoo Trees Invasive?

These trees aren’t considered invasive, but since they grow so fast, they can be bothersome. Sissoo root problems are especially common. As the roots grow and extend, they can create lumps in your lawn and even crack or misshape concrete surfaces.

Because of this, plant with caution. Don’t introduce one to your yard if you don’t have to space for its large size.

Sissoo Tree Removal: When to Get Rid of Them

If you aren’t prepared for the growing speed and large root system of a sissoo tree, you should go ahead and remove them. They also drop a lot of debris throughout the seasons, including leaves, twigs, and seed pods, which can make your yard cluttered and dirty.

These trees can also spring up new growth from their roots (or their dropped seeds), so if you don’t want to spend the time taking care of them, you should have a professional remove them before it gets out of hand.

Removing Your Sissoo Tree Today

Do you have a sissoo tree in your yard that you don’t want anymore? Don’t wait to get in touch with our team at Jose Knows Trees. We’ll take a look at your tree and come up with the fastest and safest way to get rid of it.

Ready to get started? From treating your tree to cutting it down, Jose can give you the best tree service in the east valley. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jose today!