Trees need regular attention to maintain their beauty, resilience, and overall health. Proper seasonal care, including pruning, inspections for pests and diseases, proper watering, and mulching, can protect your trees year-round.
Mulching conserves moisture, regulates soil temperature, and suppresses weed growth around the base of your trees. It also allows for easy monitoring of pest and disease activity. Hummingbird Tree Care LLC professionals can give your trees the proper care they need.
Spring
As spring thaws and the temperatures warm, it’s a great time to inspect trees for pests, diseases, frostbite, dead limbs, and other signs of stress. This is also a good time to prune any dead or diseased limbs and remove debris from the ground around the tree.
It’s important to check soil moisture at the base of your trees – particularly as we move into summer when it can be dry and hot. Adding mulch to the area can help conserve water, which is especially important for newer trees. A layer of mulch 2-3 inches thick insulates the roots and helps moderate soil temperature, allowing the tree to be more resilient in times of drought.
Another critical step in seasonal tree care is fertilization. Applying a slow-release fertilizer in the early spring will allow the tree to absorb nutrients throughout the growing season. Ideally, you should have your soil tested to determine what kind of fertilizer is needed and when.
In addition, you should be watering your trees regularly, especially if it’s been dry. This is especially true for newly planted trees, which may need up to 10 gallons per week for the first year or two. It’s best to water in the early morning hours or overnight so that the roots have a chance to soak up the water before it evaporates in the heat of the day.
Finally, it’s a good idea to stake young trees as they grow. This can help them stay upright as they grow and prevent them from falling over in a storm. In addition, you should check for any damage caused by winter winds and remove stakes as soon as possible.
Summer
Summertime can be hard on trees, but proper care and maintenance can help your landscape survive these hot, sunny months. Several key steps should be taken to ensure your trees thrive during the summer, including proper watering, mulching, and inspection for pests.
Planting a new tree is a simple process, but it requires careful attention to the details to help the new plant thrive. Make sure you dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball and bury it to the appropriate depth. Then, add soil amendments as needed to maintain proper nutrient levels in the soil.
A consistent watering schedule is essential for healthy trees, especially during the summer when heat stress can cause leaves to wilt or drop off of trees. It’s important to water slowly and deeply, aiming for the water to percolate 6-12 inches into the soil. This can be accomplished using a soaker hose or drip irrigation system.
During the summer, it’s also important to prune properly to remove dead or problematic limbs. This can help prevent potential damage during severe weather, as well as protect the property from pests that may seek shelter among dead branches.
Many people assume that it’s best to prune trees in the winter or fall, but the truth is that summer pruning can be just as effective. It’s important to be aware that excessive pruning can deprive trees of the nutrients they need to thrive, so focus on removing damaged or dead limbs rather than taking off a lot of foliage.
Summer can be a difficult time for some trees due to drought stress. To combat this, it’s important to use a fertilizer specially designed for trees and shrubs. Applying this at the recommended rate will provide your trees with the essential nutrients that they need to stay strong and healthy all summer long.
Summer is also a good time to replenish the mulch around your trees. If you’re not currently mulching, be sure to put down a 3- to 5-inch layer starting at the base of your trees and extending out 1-2 feet in all directions. This helps to conserve moisture in the soil, moderates soil temperature, and prevents weed growth.
Fall
With summer winding down and winter dormancy on the horizon, it’s time to take a closer look at your trees. Inspecting them during this transitional period can help you catch problems that might otherwise go unnoticed or worsen throughout the cold season.
During this fall tree care phase, it’s a good idea to examine the trunks of mature trees for cracks and splits as well as signs of insect infestation and disease. It’s also a great time to prune your trees because it is easier to see structural damage without the leaves covering them. This can reduce the risk of injury to the tree during winter storms, or even from snow or ice loads.
In addition, it’s important to examine the ground beneath your trees for any piles or mats of leaves and brush. These can trap moisture against the roots of your trees, leading to fungi or bacteria that will attack them when conditions warm up in spring. Raking the leaves and removing them from the base of your trees will prevent the fungi and bacteria from taking root in these moist conditions.
One last thing to do before winter sets in is to apply a layer of mulch to the ground under and around your trees. This will retain soil moisture, insulate the root system, and moderate ground temperatures throughout the cold season.
A final note, if you’ve had significant damage or disease to your trees during the year and you want to give them an extra level of protection, it’s a good idea to install a protective barrier at the base of your tree, such as metal hardware cloth or a steel cable. This can help protect your tree from damage caused by ice or snow, as well as from lawnmowers and other garden equipment.
During the early fall, it’s also a good idea to stop watering your evergreens and deciduous trees. This pause will allow the trees to enter their seasonal dormancy and avoid stimulating any new growth that may not be hardy enough for winter.
Winter
Trees are a beautiful and essential part of any landscape, providing cozy shade, oxygenating the air, and adding value to your home. They almost seem indestructible, but like any living thing they require care and attention. Especially in winter, when harsh conditions like cold wind, bright sun, freezing temperatures, and extra weight from snow and ice can pack a punch.
In the fall, it is crucial to perform important pruning and trimming before winter arrives. This process fortifies the overall strength of a tree and helps reduce risks such as disease, invasive insects, and structural failure. Additionally, dead or dying limbs should be removed before they become a liability to your property.
During this time, it is also recommended to have your tree’s electrical lines checked for proper function and safety. Having a professional inspect and repair damaged cables will ensure your trees are safe for winter storms and can continue to provide their benefits to you and your family.
The cold, dry weather of winter can cause serious damage to trees if left unattended. It is vital to be aware of and check for issues like ice dams, frost heaves, and root rot to help prevent expensive and potentially dangerous tree damage.
A good winter inspection starts with a careful look at the base of the tree for signs of damage from the previous season. Be sure to remove any decayed twigs or branches and keep an eye out for cracks in the trunk. Additionally, a thick layer of mulch will help retain optimal moisture and keep weeds and grass at bay.
It is recommended to avoid using de-icing salts near new or young trees as it interferes with the fine roots and inhibits their ability to absorb nutrients and water. Finally, it is a good idea to stake young or newly planted trees to support them throughout the winter.
Whether your yard is small or large, it’s never too early or too late to start taking better care of your trees! By being proactive and caring for your trees throughout the seasons, you can be sure they will continue to beautify and enrich your life for decades to come.