Essential Fall Tree Care Tips to Prepare for Winter
As the vibrant hues of fall begin to fade, it’s time to turn your attention to preparing your trees for the challenges of winter. Proper fall tree care not only protects your trees from harsh weather but also ensures they emerge healthy and strong come spring. From pruning weakened branches to insulating roots with mulch, taking proactive steps now can prevent damage, support growth, and preserve the beauty of your landscape. These essential tree care tips will help you safeguard your trees and prepare them for the winter months ahead.
Essential Fall Tree Care Tips to Prepare for Winter
Tip #1 – Prune for Protection: Trim, Shape, and Clear
Trees go dormant in the winter, and weak or stressed branches are prone to drop unexpectedly. Inspect the canopy before the winter weather arrives and note any branches that look dead or diseased. Tree pruning helps shape the tree to your desired landscaped look.
Tip #2 – Soil Moisture Check: Prep the Roots for Dormancy
Trees get moisture from winter rain and snow. However, if you live in a drier region, you might need to check the soil before the cold winter months arrive.
Tip #3 – Deep Watering: One Last Drink for the Year
If the ground is dry, give the trees a deep drink before the ground freezes. You can water until the trees turn dormant. Don’t water too close to the start of the first winter freeze because trees can’t absorb water through frozen soil.
Water newly planted trees slowly before putting the garden hose away for the season. Root growth in winter is much slower than in the spring. And, in colder climates growth is minimal. The root system will store nutrients and water for the spring.
Tip #4 – Mulching Magic: Insulate the Roots Against Winter’s Frosty Chill
While you should clear fallen leaves from the yard, there’s a time when it’s acceptable to use them to benefit your tree’s overwintering resilience. Mulch is decomposing matter that you spread around the base of the tree. Mulch can help a tree by:
- Retaining moisture
- Improving Soil
- Reducing erosion
Spread about 1 inch of organic mulch around the tree but away from the trunk. It floods the soil with nutrients as it decomposes. A layer of mulch also provides an insulating effect for the soil. This prevents the ground and tree roots from freezing.
Tip #5 – Clear Leaves: Prevent Disease and Pests Overwintering in Your Trees
Sweep up and remove dead leaves that have fallen from the deciduous trees around your yard. This dead weight makes the perfect hideaway for pests and pathogens to overwinter in your yard. Don’t allow pests and pathogens the opportunity to set up shop next spring. Clear the yard and keep it free of pests and diseases.
Tip #6 – Tree Health Check: Identifying Signs of Damage, Disease, or Decay
Wander around your yard and spend some time with your trees. Check out the bark, branches, and roots and look for signs of damage, disease, or decay. Examples might be mushrooms growing around the base of the trunk, or exposed roots that appear soft and mushy.
If you don’t know what to look for, call a professional arborist in your area. Ask them to come over and complete an inspection. They have knowledge of the specific issues of different tree species.
Tip #7 – Wrap It Up: Protect Young Trees from Frost and Harsh Winds
Saplings and young trees or shrubs don’t have the environmental resilience of mature trees. So, you’ll need to give them added protection against the falling temperatures. Wrap the trunk loosely in burlap to keep the frost and harsh winter winds off the bark; it’s like giving them a sweater.
For added protection, add a tree guard to deter animals from damaging your trees.
Tip #8 – Fertilize: Feed Before the Freeze
Give young trees some nourishment before the cold weather arrives and sends the roots into dormancy. Young trees store these nutrients over the winter. This prepares them for growth when the mercury rises in the spring. Look for fertilizer products from leading brands offering a NPK ratio of 16-4-8, 12-4-8, or 12-6-6.
Tip #9 – Preparing for Snow Load: Can Your Trees Handle Winter’s Weight?
Can the tree handle the weight of a snow-loaded canopy, or will it fall? Depending on the size and age of the tree, you might need to stake saplings, or trim branches from mature trees.
Snowpacks can get heavy, especially in northern regions that experience huge winter storms. The last thing you need is a dead branch dropping under the weight of snow, and potentially injuring someone underneath. Or, it can cause property damage to your home or neighbor’s yard.
Essential Tree Tips to Prepare for Winter
Follow these tree care tips to prepare for winter weather to ensure your trees are ready for the next growing season. Prune, water, and fertilize to give your trees the nutrients they need before the weather changes.
Call a local tree care professional – Omaha Tree Service – with questions or concerns. They have the knowledge to point you in the right direction.
Omaha Tree Service
Before you decide to remove a tree yourself, consider consulting with a local Omaha tree removal service. These experts can provide a safe, efficient, and legally compliant solution to your tree problems, ensuring your property and safety are protected. At Omaha Tree, our mission is to provide tree care services & mulch products that improve the HEALTH, BEAUTY, & SAFETY of our customers’ trees. We recycle all of our wood waste material from the trees we trim and remove in the greater Omaha metro area. The wood waste material is brought back to our 8-acre site at 3606 McKinley Street, where it is processed into a beautiful & consistent mulch product that is local, fresh, and clean. Contact a certified arborist today.
