5 Steps To Getting Your Trees Winter Ready

With winter just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about getting your trees ready for the cold season. Here's a look at the steps you should take to protect the trees on your property.

Remove Or Relocate Seedlings

Walk around your yard and look for any seedlings that have popped up. These baby trees will usually be at the base of the parent tree, but squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and other animals will also do their own planting away from mature trees. For high value trees, such as black walnut or black cherry trees, you may want to dig the seedling and its root ball up and replant it somewhere else in the yard.

Fertilize And Water Your Trees

Your trees will be dormant during the long months of winter, so you want to make sure you feed and water them well going into it. If you live in an area of the country that doesn't receive ample autumn rains, set your sprinkler on them weekly to give them a good soak. Fertilize your trees in October so they don't delay dormancy.

Mulch Your Trees

Use leaf mulch or wood chips to provide an insulated area and keep moisture in. Spread it out around the base of each tree, but keep it a few inches away from the bark just to add extra protection from insects.

Wrap The Base Of Your Trees

Some trees, such as ash and maple, have thin "skin." Their bark is prone to cracking from the freeze-thaw cycles. Once a tree develops fissures, they are more prone to insect infestation. The cambium, the layer just inside the bark, can also be damaged.

Wrap your trees with tree tape, moving from the bottom up the trunk to the first lateral branches. Don't wrap it too tightly as this will be removed in spring. If you have any saplings or have relocated seedlings, wrap them and then add extra protection by putting tubes around them. This will provide added protection from the cold as well as deer and other animals who will eat bark in the midst of winter when their food supply is low.

Prune Your Trees

Pruning your trees is the last thing you should do. This should not be done in autumn. Wait until it is the dead of winter—January— before you do any pruning on any tree or shrub. Then you can be assured they are fully in dormancy and won't be stressed or begin growing from the operation.

If you don't know how to prune trees or simply don't have the time or inclination to head out there in the wintertime, hire a professional tree service to come and do the job for you. Your trees will thank you in the spring. Get in touch with a company like A Advanced Tree Services to learn more.

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