A long period of extreme heat can make trees weak, which makes them more susceptible to infestations. Helping your tree recover from the summer season as they are heading into winter is very important in order to protect their health. Although the leaves might have started showing the autumn shades, you will still need to take care of them so that they can survive the harsh conditions of winter. This will ensure that the trees are healthy enough for the winter season. In this article, you will be able to learn how to take care of your trees during fall. Let’s take a look at the tips:
Watering the Trees
You will not have to water your trees in the middle of autumn. But, once the leaves fall, you should water the trees from time to time and stop once the ground freezes. The moisture supply that you provided will help them get through any weather condition that winter might through at them.
Fertilizing the Trees
As you might know, most trees do not need to be fertilized, however, if you notice that there are some symptoms of nutrient deficiencies such as yellow or pale green leaves, reduced growth, leaves falling quite early, or wilting, you may want to consider light fertilization. Fertilization will cause new growth, which might not be able to survive during winter, but will keep the trees strong.
Pruning the Trees
According to the experts from Liqui Green Turf & Tree Care, you should remove branches that are dead, damaged, or diseased in order to prevent diseases from spreading or the arrival of pests that might further damage the tree. Also, you should prune any branches that are in a bad place like over power lines or over your home, or any branches that are growing in a weird way. However, you should keep in mind to be careful when you are pruning flowering trees since most of their buds have already started to form.
Raking the Leaves
As we already mentioned tree care is extremely important, but so is the area around it. You should remove any leaves around the tree so that they do not smother the tree roots, as well as your grass. If you have fruit trees, make sure that you remove the leaves, as well as any fallen fruit to prevent pest infestation and decay.
Young Trees
Growing quickly, younger trees might not survive the harsh winter conditions. They cannot deal with the usual freezing and thawing. In order to help them, make sure that you add a thick, 3 to 6-inch layer of mulch around the base of the trunk after the ground has frozen. But, do not put it against the trunk since the buildup of moisture can attract fungus, which can damage the health of the tree. You may also want to consider wrapping the base of the trunk with burlap and covering it up to the lowest branches. This will help the tree stay warm during autumn and winter.
Conclusion
By taking care of your trees during autumn and by following the tips from this article, you will help them stay protected during the harsh winter season.