Fall Tree Care Tips

When most people think of tree care, they think of spring or summertime. However, fall and winter are important times of year as well. Just because your trees are about to go dormant to wait out the cold weather doesn’t mean they don’t need care. During fall, your trees’ needs change significantly. Most importantly, they’ll need different amounts of water and fertilizer, but there are a number of other things to keep an eye on.

The professional arborists at Accurate Tree Services + H&H Arborists make tree winterization easy. Our certified arborists can help build a personalized care plan to give your trees the best chance to survive the winter and thrive once spring returns. Read on to learn more.

Winterizing Your Trees in Madison, WI

Trees go dormant during winter, which means they take some time off from growing new limbs and leaves and use as little energy as possible. That way, they’re ready for the warmth of spring and all the growing that comes along with it. Giving them a little extra boost with tree winterization services can help them return stronger than before.

What Do Trees Need During Fall?

Like we mentioned before, trees’ needs change as the weather gets colder. Since they’re winding down to go dormant, they won’t need as much water and nutrients as usual. That doesn’t mean it’s time to stop feeding them entirely, though; there are still a few things you should do to keep them going.

• Adding mulch: can help insulate the soil, retaining both moisture and warmth near the roots. Add a layer of mulch about 2-4 inches deep around the base of the tree, leaving a gap of a few inches around the trunk.
• Keep watering your trees, but reduce the amount and frequency of water. Also, the ideal time of day to water your trees is the early morning, before the sun rises. This minimizes the risk of evaporation and freezing, giving your trees as much time as possible to drink up.

Should I Prune My Trees During Fall?

Yes! While many people get their tree pruning done during warmer weather, the fall can actually be an ideal time to have your trees pruned. When the leaves have fallen away, it’s easier to see which branches need some attention. A few other benefits of pruning your trees during fall include:

• Encouragement of new growth: When the trees awaken from their dormancy, they’ll prioritize regrowing the missing limbs.
• Stress reduction: Did you know trees could be stressed? They can! Perhaps unsurprisingly, removing a tree’s limbs causes stress. Stress is very bad for a tree’s overall health, so pruning them while they’re “asleep” is a good idea.
• Reduced chance of plant disease: Pests can cause plant disease by eating through a tree’s protective bark. Since pests tend to die off or, like the trees, hunker down for the winter, they’re less likely to invade a freshly-pruned tree.

Not sure if your tree needs pruning? Accurate Tree Services + H&H Arborists’s professional arborists can assess your trees’ needs and give them exactly what they need.

Why is Tree Fertilization Important?

Trees can usually get along just fine with the nutrients they find in the soil, but adding fertilizer can help them thrive. Since they’re dormant during the cooler months, trees don’t need as much nutrition during fall as they do during spring and summer. Even so, giving them some slow-release fertilizer can give them a head start on spring growth.

Be sure not to give them too much, though; too much fertilizer might cause the tree to grow out of season. New growth is very vulnerable to the cold, so be careful with the amount of fertilizer you give your trees this time of year.

How much is too much? The answer to that varies based on a variety of factors. Everything from the type of trees to the soil’s nutrient composition and pH levels can change the amount and type of fertilizer you’ll need. That’s where help from a pro can come in handy!

Protect Your Trees From Pests and Disease

Pest control is another process that people usually think most about during summer and spring, but fall is a great time to shore up your defenses. The typical autumn chore of raking leaves isn’t just about making your yard look good; it also removes an easy hiding place for bugs and rodents. Dormant sprays applied to trees during the colder months can drastically reduce the number of pests that hatch the following spring.

This is why tree pest control should be maintained year-round. The sooner you notice the signs of a pest problem, the better your chances of getting ahead of it. By starting earlier, you get even more of a head start. Some signs of pest activity include:

• Chewed leaves or bark
• Dead leaves and branches
• Sudden decline in tree health

Call Us for Healthy Trees All Year

Don’t forget about your trees when the weather starts to get cold! Fall might be the start of a dormant period, but that doesn’t mean your trees wouldn’t appreciate some extra help. In fact, they’ll thank you by growing stronger and faster than before when spring returns.

With 38 years of experience in tree care, the Accurate Tree Services + H&H Arborists team is ready to face up to any tree challenge you have. We know all there is to know about the trees in Madison, WI and we’re ready to help!

Give us a call today to set up a no-obligation consultation. Your trees will thank you!