Tree care experts in Your Area share information to help homeowners care for their trees during the winter.
Winter in Your Area can be a harsh season. With brutally cold temperatures and lots of winter precipitation, winter weather can take its toll on trees. Damage from cold winters can compromise the health of trees just like problems that occur during their growing season. Instead of taking chances with trees during the winter, homeowners can take steps to maximize their health so that they are ready for a vigorous growing season once warmer temperatures return. Here is a quick guide to autumn tree care.
Freshen Up the Mulch
Mulch is probably the single best thing for trees. Most often, mulch is applied during the spring when the first round of landscaping is done. However, going into winter, homeowners should take a moment and verify that there is enough to make it through the winter. A good layer of mulch helps protect a tree from temperature and moisture swings that can occur during the winter. The insulation that mulch provides keeps the environment that roots are in more stable so the tree isn’t under constant stress.
Watering Trees During Dry Spells
Summer droughts can quickly stress a tree leading to sickness or even death of the tree. Winter droughts can be just as detrimental. Giving trees water during dry spells can prevent the tree from being stressed even while it is dormant.
All trees will benefit from a weekly watering to help them make it through dry spells during the winter but keeping new trees watered is especially important. New trees are still establishing their roots systems so keeping them moist all year long for the first few years is especially important.
Prevent Injuries
During a harsh winter, trees can be subject to a number of injuries. Abrasions and mechanical injuries are common, especially to trees that are near driveways and roadways. Snow removal equipment is more dangerous to tree roots than lawnmowers. Ensuring mulch is around the base of a tree can help to prevent injury to a tree’s roots.
Tree Pruning
Winter and fall are the best times to plan tree pruning and trimming. Pruning a tree can open it up to infection from pathogens. Once temperatures begin to drop, the chances of infection drops. Through the winter, the tree can heal its wound from the pruning cuts so that it is strong and vigorous in the spring.
Professional tree trimming can also lessen the stress on a tree. Professional tree care companies are skilled at precisely pruning trees to shape them and help them grow more vigorously. Scheduling a tree pruning visit in the fall can ensure the trees are ready for winter and ready to come back strong in the spring.
Plant New Trees Before the Winter
New trees require special care through the summer and the winter. Keeping new trees watered during the winter is just as important as in the summer. Planting a new tree in the fall lessens the amount of time that the tree can establish its roots. While fall is a perfectly acceptable time to plant trees, special care should be taken to mulch the tree and make sure it stays moist through the winter.
About My Tree Service
Looking for a tree care company that can help trees regardless of the time of year? My Tree Service is a highly-rated professional tree care company. Call them today to schedule a visit from their certified arborists.