Top Tips For Preparing Your Trees For Growth
As an Edmontonian, you know how harsh the weather conditions can be. When the temperature is so cold it freezes your nose hair, you may start to wonder if this cold weather is bad for your body. Well, in reality, it is. And as much as we feel the cold on our bodies, the trees in the city, your back and front yard, and parks feel it, too. While the trees (and humans) here, in Edmonton, are built differently, to ensure that your trees grow beautifully when the winter is over, you have to give your trees a little help.
Knowing the right tree care techniques to promote healthy growth will ensure they prosper and thrive throughout the growing season. Our local Edmonton arborist is here to provide top tips for preparing your trees for growth. From looking after the base of the tree all the way to the tips of the canopy, Trusty Tree Services will guide Edmonton homeowners through the most effective ways to promote healthy tree growth before the growing season arrives.
Why It’s Important to Properly Prepare Your Trees for New Growth
Trees require soil moisture, water, and essential nutrients. Inconveniently, these resources become scarce when the weather turns cold. However, one of the most miraculous things about them is that trees have the resources to adapt and survive in fluctuating temperatures. While trees are natural-born survivors, that doesn’t mean they can’t and won’t benefit from a little extra help from their caretakers.
For many reasons, it’s important to take proactive steps for tree growth. For one, it promotes tree growth and health. Properly preparing the soil creates a safe environment for tree roots to establish and thrive, which is crucial for newly planted trees’ long-term health and vitality. Preparing the site will help retain soil moisture and improve nutrient availability, supporting strong root growth.
Two, preparing your trees for growth ensures the trees thrive, survive, and last throughout the harsh winter. By pruning, watering, and mulching, you set the foundation for optimal tree health. Now, let’s get into how to properly equip your trees for the winter.
Pruning and Tree Trimming
Tree pruning is an essential tree care service. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own, you can always rely on the help of a certified arborist. Pruning and removing dead branches or damaged branches promote tree growth and improve the tree’s overall health. It’s best to prune trees in the late fall after the leaves have fallen. This encourages new growth and reduces the risk of branches breaking from ice and snow. By pruning your trees and shrubs, you can remove diseased, dead, or damaged branches, which ultimately assists in preparing them for growth.
Adequately Watering Your Trees
Like all living things, trees need water (and lots of it) to survive. So, before the ground freezes, you’ll want to water your trees thoroughly to help prevent winter desiccation, when trees dehydrate from dry winds and fluctuating temperatures. When planting the tree, ensure the tree gets adequate water by checking how well the soil drains.
Put a Layer of Mulch Around the Base of the Tree
Mulching is a powerful and effective technique that landscapers and arborists know well. Putting mulch around your trees will help the tree retain soil moisture, regulate its soil temperature, and insulate the roots. Did you know that mulch also helps prevent invasive intruders like weeds and pests from invading the soil?
Mulch is made from a variety of organic matter, such as bark, wood chips, leaves, or grass clippings. It breaks down over time, providing the soil with rich and essential nutrients. That’s why incorporating mulch into tree care is a necessary part of preparing your trees for growth. Put a layer of the mulch you choose around the base of your tree trunk, leaving a few inches of space between the mulch and the trunk to prevent rot.
Wrapping and Bracing the Tree
We put an extra layer under our parkas to protect ourselves from the chilling Northern winds. You can think of wrapping and bracing your trees in a similar way, providing your trees with an extra shield to prevent sunscald—a nasty condition that damages the beautiful bark on trees in the winter. So, wrap your trees with burlap or commercial tree wrap to save the bark from sunscald. Your tree(s) may also need bracing or cabling for growth reinforcement. You can use anything like sturdy rope or wire to create support structures that help stabilize the branches and make sure they won’t break under the weight of snow.
Fertilization
Sometimes, you may take vitamin D tablets in the winter to compensate for the lack of sunlight. Well, your trees will benefit from their own type of vitamin: fertilizer. Inject essential nutrients into the soil to strengthen the tree’s defences against winter stress, and it will encourage new buds to form in the spring.
A Note on Tree Planting
The time you decide to plant new trees will influence their growth. Planting deciduous trees in early spring or fall and conifers in early spring or between early August and late October is best. When planting these tree species, dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball and ensure the root collar is level or slightly above ground level.
Knowing when and how to plant a tree will ensure the tree prospers and reduce the risk of disease and pest infestations that harm the tree’s development. Professional arborists always say it’s time to start planting trees when the kids return to school and the soil temperatures are at or above ten degrees Celsius.
By implementing these tips into your tree care regimen, you are properly preparing your trees for growth. This also gives you a little something to look forward to despite the dog days of winter ahead.
Trusty Tree Services Is Your Guide in Preparing Your Trees for Growth!
When the snow flies and the ice forms, you will be tempted to stay indoors and bundle up. However, it’s our glorious trees that endure the elements, handling what we can’t. That’s why it’s necessary to provide them with the proper support to thrive, not just survive. To learn more about what Trusty Tree Services does for the community or to learn more about our services, feel free to contact us online. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about preparing your trees for growth.