Winter Tree Care

Winter Tree Care

Baby it’s cold outside…but remember to care for your trees!

Snow has fallen, icy mist covers the branches of your gorgeous trees. The weight is too much for the limbs to handle. Snap! There go your branches. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you should stop caring for your trees. Here are a few tips from TreeHelp.com to assist you in cold weather tree care!

Besides snow and ice, the cold weather itself takes a toll on trees. Cold stress can take many different forms. Daytime heat and nighttime freezing can stress out mature trees. According to TreeHelp.com, temperature variations may lead to stresses between the outer and inner bark of the tree, causing cracks called frost cracking or southwest injury.

Unfortunately, not much can be done to prevent this frost cracking. In many cases, however, the tree is able to repair itself, but the cracked area remains vulnerable and repetitive cracking in the same place may cause major damage to the tree. If your young trees are at risk, TreeHelp.com recommends wrapping the bark as part of a fall maintenance procedure.

Another cold stress on trees is a sudden early frost on late growth. Tree growth late in the season is more vulnerable because it doesn’t have the same amount of time to adjust to the cold as established growth, according to TreeHealth.com. “Ice crystals can rupture the cell walls on the new tips of branches leading to die off the following season,” the site said.

In order to avoid this situation, TreeHelp.com urges you to avoid pruning until after your trees have gone into dormancy for the fall. “Pruning too soon might encourage new growth and increase the risk of frost damage,” said the site. TreeHelp.com also says to avoid using fertilizers with amounts of quick-release nitrogen. However, trees can definitely benefit from proper fall fertilization. Give Dudley Dew Right a call to help you with your winter fertilization needs!

The second cold weather tree problem is winter drought. This occurs when trees lose more water than they can absorb from frozen ground, and occurs more often in early spring when the ground is still frozen and the spring sun starts warming the rest of the tree. Windy conditions, especially present in Nebraska, may worsen the problem.

According to TreeHelp.com, there is no sure fire way to help with winter drought, but you may be able to control the problem by spreading a thick layer of mulch around the base of your trees in late fall. Again, give us at Dudley’s a call, and we’ll be glad to help you.

Branch breakage is another common winter tree health problem. Due to the cold weather, branches are more vulnerable to breakage in the winter. In deciduous trees, according to TreeHealth.com, the wood hardens and becomes a little more brittle and susceptible to wind damage. This problem, mixed with ice and snow, can affect deciduous and evergreens alike.

How do you care for this problem? Good fall tree maintainence is the solution, and Dudley’s is more than willing to be there for you when it comes time to prune your trees. Another solution for very small trees and shrubs is to cover the entire tree with a tent-like housing. For larger evergreens, consider using rope to tie and reinforce branches before the heavy snow and ice falls.

Rodents are another winter tree problem. Trees may become targets for rodents looking for food. Deer, mice and rabbits are the main culprits, according to TreeHelp.com. Mice and rabbits chew bark and girdle trees. Squirrels may also become a winter tree problem.

To guard against these rodents, TreeHelp.com states the following:

For mice, leave a space between the mulch and trunk of the tree and check frequently. If they continue to be a problem, think about setting out bait, following package directions carefully. Rabbits, on the other hand, can be deterred by wire mesh enclosures, and commercial paint-on repellents may also be available. Contact us today for options!

Healthy Trees, Healthy Yard

Take Care of Your Trees

Are your trees looking sick or wilted? Diagnosing the problem might be difficult, but luckily, ArborDay.org provides a great guide to keeping your trees healthy and figuring out the problem.

To sum up the Tree Health Guide, the first step is to contact a Cooperative Extension Service to diagnose your problem.

Current tree health issues include drought, disease, pests, invasive species and improper planting.

Signs of drought may include leaf wilting, leaf scorch, stem dieback and/or increased susceptibility to pests and diseases. Make sure you start by choosing the species that will grow well in your conditions and follow the basic tree watering guidelines.

Some of the most common tree diseases include Dogwood Anthracnose, Dutch Elm Disease, Eastern Filbert Blight, Oak Wilt, Pine Wilt, Sudden Oak Death and Thousand Cankers Disease. To learn more about these tree diseases (and the following pests), click HERE.

When it comes to pests, some of the main culprits include Asian Longhomed Beetles, Bark Beetles, Emerald Ash Borers, Hemlock Woolly Adelgids, Japanese Beetles and Periodical Cicadas.

Invasive species – plants, animals or pathogens foreign to your region are likely to make your trees unhealthy. Visit the National Invasive Species Information Center to find invasive species in your area.

Improper planting is another cause of unhealthy trees. According to ArborDay.org, one common mistake is planting the root flare too deep. Root flare is the point where the trunk begins to spread out as it meets the roots, and will cause a slow decline, eventually killing the tree.

If you’re looking for help with treatment of your unhealthy trees, give Dudley’s Dew Right a call today! We’d love to be able to help you out!