ARE YOUR TREES READY FOR WINTER? oUR TOP 5 TIPS
New England winters are beautiful. There’s nothing better than looking out your window and seeing trees that are covered in snow. Even though the snow that comes during the cold New England winters is beautiful, it can negatively impact your trees> To be safe you need to take the necessary precautions to protect them. The good news is, that it isn’t too complicated to get your trees prepared for the taxing winter season. The best time to do this, is in the late fall time. This means that you’ve got to ensure that your trees are ready to withstand the weather that comes with the cold season.
There’s nothing worse than something happening to your trees, especially because they’re such an integral part of your yard. So, before you find out the hard way, make sure your trees are ready to survive the cold! Today, we’re going to explain seven things that you can do, to ensure that your trees are ready to survive the winter season. By the end, you’ll feel comfortable preparing your trees for the coming months, or you’ll be ready to consult a professional, who can do these tasks for you.
Let’s get started.
OUR TOP 5 TIPS TO GET YOUR TREES READY FOR WINTER
1. Fertilize
Fall fertilizer gives the trees a volume of water and essential soil nutrients while their roots are still actively working. When soil temperatures are above 45 degrees they are still working. With the warmer temperatures recently we still have plenty of time to fertilize. This not only prepares the trees for winter it helps them to wake up full of vigor next spring.
2. Mulch
Have you ever wondered what the importance of mulching your trees is? Actually, mulching your trees is more than just an aesthetic choice, because it helps your tree to retain its moisture and it buffets extreme temperatures. During the wintertime a layer of mulch on your trees helps their roots stay warm and continue to actively absorb water. Water keeps your trees hydrated and resilient.
So, to avoid damage to your trees, put down a layer of mulch to regulate your trees’ temperature. It’s always a good idea to leave about 2 inches between the trunk and the mulch. If the mulch is on or too close to the tree trunk, it can make a home for rodents that can feed on the bark which really damages woody plants. It can also cause fungus to grow which can also damage the base of the plant
3. EVALUATE
When there are no leaves on your deciduous trees you can better see the structure. You can see breaks, dead limbs, decay, fungi and other structural defects that may have gone unnoticed in the growing season.
Something that can be a bit harder to notice, but just as important is branches or trees that have dropped their leaves early. These limbs are dead and vulnerable to snow and ice. Dead limbs and trees are more likely to break under stress.
Evaluating the health of your limbs and trees after leaf drop helps you to make a proactive plan to reduce risk through pruning and removal.
4. REMOVE
Before the wintertime comes and causes more stress; remove compromised trees. Make sure that you remove all of the trees from your yard that are already dead, weak or structurally compromised. You don’t want any trees falling this winter. So, to ensure there aren’t any bad surprises be sure to remove all of the potentially hazardous trees in your yard.
The good news is that removal in late fall and winter is the least invasive to your property; no flowers to damage, less lawn damage and the saw dust seems to magically disappear by the spring.
5. PRUNE
The dormant season is an excellent time to prune your trees and shrubs. It’s incredibly important to prune your trees, if you want them to survive the winter. Pruning correctly means you have a specific plan for each tree. Most trees and shrubs will have specific needs due to the species, condition, location and age. When you prune your trees, you are increasing the overall strength and health. This is important, because the healthier your tree is, the better chance it has to withstand snow, ice and cold winds. Most importantly pruning your trees will reduce the chance of there being any dead branches or structural defects that endanger your property.
LET'S PROTECT THOSE TREES BEFORE WINTER
When it comes to staying healthy, your trees need your help! Even though trees are resilient, they can’t be as healthy and strong as they can be, without a little bit of maintenance. This fall, before the winter months are at their worst, try implementing these tips. If you do, you’ll see a difference in the health of your trees, come springtime.
New England winters can be brutal, so if you’re feeling anxious about your trees surviving the wintertime, it might be a good idea to call in a professional to help prepare your trees for the cold months. Mayer Tree Service is committed to helping you with all of your tree-related questions and concerns. So, if you’re interested in learning more about our services, contact us.
We’re excited to help you and your trees!
If you have questions about tree service or plant health care or would like an estimate, give us a call at 978-768-6999 or click here to contact us.
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