Autumn Tree And Shrub Care
Posted on: 18 June 2015
The right care during the proper season is one of the surest methods to ensure your trees and shrubs stay attractive and in good health. For most, spring and early summer is the time for trimming, while summer is when you water, fertilize, and treat for pests and diseases. Fall is another important, yet often overlooked, season when it comes to plant health, especially in areas that experience freezing winter weather. Continue reading to find out what you should be doing for your landscape trees before winter approaches.
Provide a Quick Maintenance Trim
Most trees don't require a full pruning in fall, but you do want to remove any obvious problems. Cut out dead or damaged branches, removing them back to the nearest healthy wood. You don't want dead branches blowing down in a winter storm. Also, survey the tree, after the leaves drop, for any branches that are crossed and rubbing together. Cut out one of the rubbing branches; otherwise, they may become damaged as they rub when cold winds are blowing.
Cleanup and Mulch
Make sure you rake up all the fallen leaves, twigs, and other debris around your trees and shrubs. This detritus can harbor insect pests or disease organisms. Then, spread a fresh layer of mulch around the base of the trees and shrubs, leaving a 3-inch space between the mulch and the trunks. Mulch provides insulation, so roots are less likely to suffer from winter temperature changes. You can even compost the fallen leaves each year and then use them to mulch the trees the following autumn.
Wrap and Protect
Young trees in particular can suffer from a condition called sunscald, which occurs when the winter sun thaws out the sap beneath the bark during freezing weather. This can cause the trunk to split, severely injuring or killing the tree. Prevent this problem by lightly wrapping the trunk with burlap or a commercial tree wrap.
Wind can also be drying and damaging, especially to evergreen shrubs. Erect a wind block in front of the shrubs by stretching burlap between stakes. Alternatively, wrap each shrub in burlap, leaving the top open for air circulation. Just make sure you remove all tree and shrub wraps before the weather begins to warm in spring.
Water
Finally, make sure your trees are well hydrated. Water deeply in fall before the first freeze occurs. You may also need to water evergreens periodically in winter if the weather is dry and there are extended periods where temperatures remain above freezing.
Contact a tree service for more advice.
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