Seasonal Tree Care: A Month-by-Month Guide for Edmonton Homeowners
Caring for trees is so much more difficult than digging up a hole, placing the trunk of the tree in it, filling it with dirt, and pouring water profusely into the soil. Our Edmonton arborists won’t compare caring for trees to caring for children, but they would be fibbing if they said there isn’t a certain level of dedication and responsibility involved with nurturing them. In Edmonton, we have the precious gift of enjoying four distinct seasons, even though some may argue that the winter months are more of an imposition than a gift.
The trees you find in backyards, parks, neighbourhoods, and valleys all have to endure extreme temperature fluctuations and varying moisture levels throughout the season. And though the trees you find in natural areas of Edmonton may have adapted to these challenges, the ones you plant at your home haven’t necessarily. That’s why our arborists are here to equip you with month-by-month seasonal tree care tips to ensure your trees remain healthy and strong year-round.
Trusty Tree Services is here to help keep your trees healthy, lush, and well-cared for despite the temperature rises and drops. With our seasonal tree care tips, your trees will thrive, not just survive. Whether you want to learn how to nurture new growth or how to avoid pest infestations, we will cover it all.
General Seasonal Care Tips for Edmonton Trees
Throughout the year, trees grow and shift, their branches reaching out to capture sunlight while their roots dig deeper into the earth. However, they face numerous challenges. There’s drought, pests, ice and snow, and high temperatures and dry conditions. With all these environmental factors, you must prioritize tree health and proper care with each passing month.
While it is safe to say that there isn’t much yard work to do in February, there is still pruning and structural maintenance that can be undertaken to ensure the trees remain strong and well-shaped. So, before we get into our month-by-month seasonal tree care guidance, we thought we should highlight some general tips and essential tree care practices to keep in your back pocket:
- Mulching: Adding a layer of mulch around the base of trees is a tree care essential. Mulch is made from organic materials, which helps retain soil moisture and temperature. In periods of extreme temperatures, mulch is necessary for properly caring for your trees.
- Pruning: While large tree canopies are beautiful, you don’t want branches to become unruly. When there are dead or damaged branches, it’s best to remove them, as they can rob essential nutrients from healthy branches that are steadily growing. There are certain months when pruning is most effective, typically during early spring or late winter before new growth begins.
- Deep watering: Slowly and deeply watering your trees is fundamental, especially for young trees or newly planted trees. While deep watering is beneficial, there’s a fine line between overwatering and underwatering.
- Monitoring: Once you’ve planted a tree, it’s essential to regularly monitor for pests, diseases, and healthy growth. You will also want to monitor the branches for damage caused by summer storms or animals.
With these general seasonal tree care tips, you can ensure your trees thrive throughout the months that pass. Now, let’s get into our month-by-month tree maintenance and care guide.
January
In January, Edmonton gets about 31 cm of snow on the ground. You’ve shovelled snow before; you know how heavy it can be to maneuver. Now, imagine how heavy that snow is on your tree branches? In January, remove heavy snow from branches, but avoid shaking limbs that have frozen, as this can damage the tree. You should also inspect the trunk of the tree for cracks and damage from ice, especially on young trees. And lastly, do not pile salted snow near tree roots. These salts can damage the roots of your trees.
February
February is the best time to prune. Winter dormancy allows trees to recover quickly from the cuts, so by the time the growing season arrives, they are ready for new growth. Remove weak, crossing, and dead branches. If you wrapped your young trees in a wrap, inspect the tree wrap to ensure it hasn’t caused any restriction to the bark.
March
By the time March comes, Edmontonians can begin to sigh a bit of relief, as the promises of spring start to emerge. But there is still snow and ice in March, so you will still want to inspect your trees for signs of disease and pests before the growing season commences. You can still prune damaged or dead branches in March, so inspect branches for any signs of concern.
April
The best time to plant new trees in Alberta is in April and May. So, if you’re planning to add new growth to your landscape, now is the time to plant. If you have fruit trees on your property, you can prune these before the buds begin to open. This will encourage new growth and also create more blossoms for bumblebees to pollinate. April is also the ideal time to start deep watering if the ground has thawed.
May
May is the month to start applying a layer of mulch around the base of your trees. This will help the plant retain moisture and also prevent it from rotting. Water your trees deeply once a week, maybe even twice a week for young trees. May is also the month when pests begin to emerge from their hiding places, so be sure to monitor your trees for any signs of infestation.
June and July
Deep watering should be included in your seasonal tree care routine by the time June and July arrive. June and July are known for periods of dry spells, so ensure your trees are receiving as much water as possible without overwatering them. You can trim your trees to shape them, but avoid excessive pruning.
August
By the time August hits, the soil surrounding your trees should be well-moistened if you’re keeping up with your seasonal tree care. This means that you can begin to slightly reduce your watering schedule. While you should still deeply water the tree, you can let the soil dry slightly between watering sessions.
September
In Alberta, September is another great month to get new trees into the ground. So, before the snow flies, plant new trees. You can give the trees another deep watering before winter fully sets in to keep the roots hydrated. You can begin pruning in the fall, but only remove branches that have died, weakened, or crossed over other branches.
October
Now, October is a crucial month for seasonal tree care because it focuses on winterization. If you have evergreens on your property, before the earth freezes, give them a deep watering to prevent winter desiccation. If you were fertilizing, now is the time to put that practice on hold, as trees shouldn’t be growing in the fall and winter months; they should remain dormant until spring.
November
In November, you’re going to have to go into protection mode. You can fluff the mulch around trees to ensure the roots have adequate insulation and inspect for storm damage. There isn’t much you can do for seasonal tree care in November except to protect them from frost and winter winds.
December
In December, all you can do is to continue to brush off snow from branches and enjoy the beautiful winter landscape. If you were diligent with your seasonal maintenance, you won’t have to worry about anything, except for how to string lights into your trees!
For Healthy and Vibrant Trees, Let Trusty Tree Services Help with Your Seasonal Tree Care in Edmonton
By following these seasonal tree care tips, you are taking an active step in keeping your trees healthy year-round. If you ever need the hand of a certified arborist, the team at Trusty Tree Services is always willing to help.
To learn more about our services, please call us at 780-860-5500.