Charlotte:
Fall Tree Care Happens Between September through November
A Fall tree care plan is very important to make sure your trees flourish in fall and are prepared for the winter. One of the best ways to keep your trees healthy is fertilizing. Applying fertilizer in the fall helps your tress survive the winter months. Trees in urban and suburban environments face high-stress conditions like low moisture availability, compaction, physical damage, and construction. When we rake away leaves, twigs, and fall bark we also take away the nutrients that would have naturally decomposed, feeding the roots. When this occurs, your trees will have a sorter lifespan and be more susceptible to insects and diseases. Raking your leaves helps limit your trees chances of Fungi that has laid dormant since spring from reinfecting your trees.
What is the Best Time to Plant New Trees
The best time to plant new trees is fall. Planting during fall months helps new trees stay cool and prevents them from being scorched by high temperatures. Placing mulch around your trees in fall helps keep the moisture in and feeds your tree roots with nutrients all winter long. Mulching your trees is one of the best things you can do for your trees.
Best Way to Water Your Trees in Fall
- Focus on the roots not the leaves. Watering leaves is of no value to your tree and can promote the spread of disease.
- Don’t use a sprinkler. Sprinklers only water the surface or over water your tree.
- Water in the morning to avoid evaporation.
- Water thoroughly and deeply 1-2 times per week.
- Don’t soak the soil. A mud puddles is not what you are going for. You want the soil wet but not soaking.
Most of the problems caused by winter is the fact that trees and shrubs lose moisture through their pores in their leaves and needles. During these months, dry air and wind quicken this effect causing the leaves to increase their water requirements from the roots in order to survive. Unfortunately, the root system has a hard time keeping up the supply of moisture through the leaves resulting in the leaves and needles dying and turning brown. This is called winter burn, or desiccation.
How Can You Combat Winter Burn or Desiccation
Adding anti-desiccant treatments to your winter tree care plan can solve this destructive cycle. Anti-desiccants coat the upper and lower foliage in a protective wax coating reducing the moisture lost through the leaves. Anti-desiccants provide trees & shrubs with the protection they need to thrive during winter instead of fighting to survive meaning no unsightly brown and dying evergreens!
Prune Any Deadwood
Be sure to remove any dead wood or branches that often fall and break during storms or winds.
Cabling
Stabilize your tree’s structure if the tree is unable to support its own weight. This can help assist healthy, but oddly shaped or slightly injured trees to maintain their structural integrity.
When to Inspect Your Trees
When the leaves fall off the trees in late fall have your tree inspections done. This is the time to spot structural issues that could be dangerous.
Call in the Pros
Treescape Tree experts is equipped with the knowledge and expertise needed to take care of any of your tree service needs. If you need tree inspection, tree trimming or tree removal services by a certified arborist, we are your go-to, full-service company for all your needs in the Charlotte NC and Gastonia NC area. We offer a level of experience and professionalism that can’t be beat. Contact us today!