Part of having trees on your property is preparing them for seasonal weather changes. From thorough inspections to routine watering, you can create a tree maintenance schedule that works all year-round.
Spring: A Time for Revival
Check your trees for signs of winter-related damage or infestations. Next, prune the unhealthy or dead branches with a clean, sharp tool. This reduces stress and keeps potential diseases from spreading.
Next, add a slow-release fertilizer to encourage plant growth and an organic mulch to prevent drying out, unstable temperatures and weeds. It’s best to apply the mulch 2 inches away from the trunk to keep pests and rot at bay. Pick up their watering schedule as the ground starts thawing.
Summer: Protection on Those Hot Days
One of the most important summer tasks is staying on top of their watering. For mature trees, give them 10 gallons of water for every inch of their trunk width. Water them biweekly during typical summer weather and weekly during heatwaves and droughts.
Younger trees need 10 to 15 gallons of water for every inch of trunk width. Pay attention to how fast their soil dries out, and water them two to three times a week.
You should also regularly inspect your trees for diseases and pests. Some of the signs include the following:
- Discolored leaves
- Sticky residue
- Small bark holes
- Fungal growths
- Unusual bumps
- Visible infestations
Keep an eye out for leaning, heavy loads and other signs of stress. Cut off weak or broken branches immediately but skip over the major pruning. Otherwise, you may put more stress on your trees.
Fall: Preparing for Winter Hibernation
Before the ground freezes, give your trees a deep watering to ensure they survive winter.
Rake up the fallen leaves and rotten fruit to keep diseases and pests away. You also want to remove any sick or damaged branches. Just like summer, skip the major pruning. Otherwise, you’ll encourage healthy branches to grow and possibly die in the cold weather.
Be sure to apply a layer of mulch over the root zone. You should also wrap young or thin-barked trunks in tree wrap to protect them from sunscald and wildlife.
Winter: Staying Safe While Dormant
Prune your seasonal trees while they’re hibernating. It’s easier to find possible issues on bare trees. You never want to prune in severe cold because it can increase stress.
If your tree species requires it, add dormant oil to kill dormant insect eggs. Next, adjust structural support as needed. You also want to add a thick layer of mulch around the base.
After any winter storms, check for and address potential damage right away.
It’s always nice to look out your window and see the beautiful trees. When you stick with your seasonal maintenance, you’ll enjoy gorgeous, healthy trees for many years. When you need commercial tree services in Redmond, OR, contact 4 Brothers Tree Service.
