How To Prep Your Landscape Trees for Winter
Humans are not the only ones who get cold during the winter seasons: plants and shrubs do too! In fact, water damage occurs when roots freeze and moisture is lost. Some evergreens and foliage can turn yellow, and tree trunks get easily broken from the cold. Severe frost damage can take a toll on the overall health of your trees.
Special care should be taken to protect your trees, especially the younger ones. Newly planted, tender trees are more prone to frost injury or even death when exposed to freezing temperatures. Give your trees a helping hand in preparing for the cold months by following these simple tree care tips:
Water them before the ground freezes. Most plants need to go through some sort of hibernation called dormancy. They need to go dormant to stay alive during the frosty weather. Before this happens, provide them with deep watering and ensure that the water and the nutrients reach their roots. That extra water will prevent drought damage and make up for the lost moisture. Check if the water penetrates 12″ to 18″ deep to reach the plant roots.
Wrap the trunks and branches of younger trees. There are tree protective wraps, burlaps, or light-colored fabric in the market that help prevent sunscald. Due to drastic winter temperature fluctuations, bark damage and frost cracks are very common. You can wrap breathable mesh or cloth pieces around the trunk to keep it warm and sun-proof during the big chill.
Pro-tip: Wrap your trees from top to bottom so that the moisture won’t collect in the folds, then leave the wrap on until spring or early April.
Don’t prune in the fall. Pruning is a horticultural technique that stimulates new growth. When you prune trees just when they start to go dormant, their trunks and branches weaken and become easier to be blown by winter winds.
Late winter or early spring is the best time for pruning because you can easily see the shrub’s branching structure without the leaves. Always prune just outside the branch collar and cut branches at the node where one branch or twig attaches to a larger one.
Mulch your trees. To ensure the tree roots are insulated from the cold, spread 2 to 4 inches of mulch, wood chips, or shredded bark around the base. Using organic mulch will help reduce soil evaporation, improve water absorption, and reduce temperature extremes.
Always remember to never place the mulch against the tree and leave a 6-inch space to avoid back decay, rodent chewing, and fungus growth during drier and colder months.
Feed and fertilize them. Give your trees their well-deserved treat by feeding them with a slow-release fertilizer. By treating the soil with fertilizer, you help them sustain their nutrients and adequate supply for the coming wintry weather. These additional nutrients will also allow them to ward off diseases and invasive insects and return stronger in spring.
Remove dead branches and debris. For aesthetic and safety purposes, damaged branches and shrubs should be removed in late winter. Any signs of overhanging branches must be noted down and addressed as soon as possible.
Tree trimming and removal are performed by professional arborists who will cut the damaged or overgrown branches correctly. Autumn leaves and fallen fruit should also be cleaned and disposed of to avoid leaf litter where pests can burrow.
Talk to the Tree Experts
If you have plants and shrubs in your yard, you are encouraged to make a mental note to prune them before the new leaves. Your landscape plants need some TLC before Jack Frost bites. Looking for someone who provides tree pruning and removal services? Ask our Tree Removal Lancaster team, and we are here for all your tree service needs!