Tree Owner’s Manual available in English and Spanish

Published by the USDA Forest Service, the Tree Owner’s Manual is a concise yet comprehensive guide to tree care basics. Playfully modeling itself on owner’s manuals that accompany automobiles and appliances, the Manual covers the following topics:

  • Model Information and Parts Diagram (broad-leaf trees, palms and conifers)
  • Packaging (balled and burlapped, containerized, and bare root)
  • Installation (planting)
  • Maintenance Instructions (watering, mulching, pruning, and more)
  • Protecting Trees from Construction Damage
  • Service and Repair (how to hire an arborist)
  • Troubleshooting (common pests, diseases, and structural issues)
  • Removal and Disposal
  • Buying a New Tree
  • and more!

Like any good owner’s manual, the Tree Owner’s Manual provides straightforward instructions, useful tips and checklists, and exceptionally clear illustrations. The guide is short (only 35 pages), produced in black-and-white, and available as a free download.

To download the manual, please follow these links:

English version

Spanish version

The Forest Service created this publication to address the short average lifespan of urban trees, which often die prematurely due to improper planting, lack of maintenance, and injury during construction projects. With this guide, homeowners and tree care specialists can help their trees live long, healthy lives.

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