How Do You Prepare Your Trees For Winter?

The care that your trees need varies with the season. In winters milder sun and low temperatures can harm roots, dry out foliage, and damage branches. Fortunately, with the right winter tree care, these negative consequences can be avoided. In this blog we provide some professional tips on getting your trees ready for winter. 

Add mulch around trees

In winters, sometimes the ground freezes and gathers snow. A tree can be protected from the effects of these severe winter conditions by adding two to three inches of mulch around it. In addition to providing vital nutrients to the surrounding soil and safely retaining moisture, tree mulch protects the roots from the elements and keeps them warm. Mulching may seem like a simple task, but it’s actually a delicate process that requires careful handling. Your tree’s base needs room to breathe, and if you add too much mulch or pile it in the shape of a “volcano” around the trunk, the root system will run out of oxygen. Instead, try shaping your mulch into a “donut.” 

Winter tree pruning

A certified arborist can help you maintain your trees’ strength and health throughout the winter. Although pruning can happen almost any time of year, there are some advantages to pruning a tree when it is in its dormant state. A tree that is trimmed in the winter will be able to use more of its stored energy to heal from pruning wounds more quickly, which will ultimately result in less stress for the tree.

Check for pests, parasites and diseases

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No tree is safe from pests and parasites without constant maintenance. Many pests will be hibernating, and they will probably look for trees to call home during the winter as trees go into dormancy. Having an arborist regularly check your trees for evidence of disease, pest damage, or parasitic damage will help you identify possible issues before they become major threats. 

Covering trees in winter

Decrease in temperatures when drop below freezing increases the risk of frost damage to young or recently planted trees. Young trees are especially susceptible to sunscald in the winter. This is the period of time when sharp drops in temperature are followed by intense sunshine, which damages the tree’s fruit, leaves, and bark. More mature, older trees are more likely to withstand sunburn with only minor cosmetic damage. 

Tree cabling and bracing

It’s crucial to protect your trees from damage during winter storms due to strong winds and rain. Vulnerable trees are braced and cabled in order to lessen the possibility of damage or failure during severe weather. By limiting dangerous limb movement and adding extra support, this protective method will help your trees weather storms efficiently.

Remove dead or dangerous trees from your property

Strong winds and precipitation during the winter can cause dangerous trees to fail and fall, which can result in injuries and property damage. This risk is particularly high when it comes to trees that are already dead or severely damaged structurally. For year-round safety for you and your property you will need professional tree care and landscaping services from an arborist.

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