Maintaining Your Trees This Winter

by Kevin Smith Author

With the cold weather here, you may think that you can relax on your yard work. While your grass and flowers may be dormant, there’s plenty that needs to be done to keep your trees healthy and happy. To ensure that your foliage is plentiful once spring hits, here are a few tips from tree services in Lawrenceville, GA.

Inspect Your Trees Thoroughly

When your tree is in full bloom, it’s difficult to see the trunk and branches in their entirety. Now that it’s colder, the leaves have all fallen. This gives you ample opportunity to thoroughly examine each part of your tree. Keep a close eye out for evidence of insects, disease, and mold. If you see any spots or markings on your tree’s trunk, you may want to speak with a professional to ensure that proper treatment is pursued.

Trim Your Branches

Fall and winter are the best times to trim back the branches of your trees. Trimming your trees during the summer could shock your plants, causing them to die. But, during the colder seasons, your trees become dormant. Use this time to prune any branches that are weak or dead. As a rule of thumb, never trim more than 30 percent of your tree's crown at a time. This ensures that your tree has enough time to heal and rest before spring creeps in.

Use the Proper Fertilizer

The roots of your trees need food and nutrients to thrive. Typically, it’s a good idea to spread fertilizer around the soil of your trees a few times a year. By putting down the right fertilizer during the cold season, you give it a chance to seep through the soil and into the roots before things start to warm up. This creates a healthy environment for your tree to bloom once things begin to warm up.

Lay Mulch

Now is the time to prepare your tree for the heat of next year. By laying down mulch, you protect the root system of your trees. Not only will it protect your tree from freezing, but it also allows the roots protection from the sun during the summer. Mulch prevents erosion and ensures that the soil has time to soak up water and nutrients before being evaporated by the sun.

If you’re unsure of the best way to care for your trees this winter, leave it up to the tree services in Lawrenceville, GA. With their expertise, each one of your trees will be trimmed, treated, and ready to bloom this spring.