Fall is the perfect time to prepare your trees for the chilly winter months and encourage healthy growth when spring comes. It is the time to start accomplishing essential maintenance that will help your trees thrive despite the effects of the harsh cold weather. Before it gets too cold, head outside and gives your trees some love and care with these helpful tips.
Fall Fertilization
Extreme changes of temperature throughout summer and winter drain vitamins and minerals from the ground. You can help your tree recuperate by using a good fertilizer. Feed your trees with slow-release fertilizers to help them get the nourishment they need even in winter. It can keep them from acquiring diseases and getting infested by insects and pests. Always ask a certified arborist about the type and amount of fertilization required for a specific species of trees because it is not universal for all types.
Rely on Mulch
Help your tree with water retention and insulation by putting organic mulch around its base. The mulch will act as a blanket and give your tree the much-needed protection it requires from the cold and other factors.
Don’t Forget to Hydrate
Summer is not the only time you should water your trees. During the fall, you should not forget to shower your trees with adequate hydration. In fact, fall is the best time to be generous with watering your trees.
Do not be contented with watering the trees from above the soil because it may not suffice. You can try subsurface watering to reach the roots down effectively. You can use an injection probe, which you can purchase from your local garden center to allow water to penetrate up to 12 inches deep in the soil. This method is ideal for trees that have no irrigation systems and young trees.
Timely Planting
Did you know that fall is one of the best seasons to plant a tree? The temperatures are more relaxed compared to summer, and the tree will become less likely to suffer from sun scorch or drought. This condition is favorable to young trees and will assist them in establishing their root system quickly. This will prepare them for their dormancy period when winter kicks in.
Prevent Injuries
As ice and snow accumulate in a tree’s branches, the weight can be heavier than what it can bear and can result in breaking or splitting. To prevent this, you can wrap young trees with a plastic guard or burlap. This can protect your tree from any damage caused by the extreme cold. Just don’t forget to remove the wraps when spring comes to avoid damage to your trees. Be wary when plowing ice around your tree. Make sure you don’t hit the limbs or trunks with the sharp blade or shovel because it can lead to injuries.
Prepare Your Trees for the Cold
Your trees are about to face a battle as the winter comes. The best way you can help them survive is to prepare them by pruning, cabling, and bracing them. Inspect the tree and locate any broken or weakened branches that need reinforcement. This will give your tree a good shot at thriving despite heavy snow and ice.