Our Best Tips For Winter Tree Maintenance
Winter can be a difficult season for all living creatures, with the drop in temperatures and harsh weather conditions. Trees, like many other forms of life, need additional support during this season to remain healthy and safe.
At Kneebone Trees, trees are our speciality and we deliver outstanding tree care services all year round. We understand how much more support our trees need during the coldest months of the year and our using our experience as arboricultural experts to deliver this guide.
In this guide, we are sharing our best tips for winter tree maintenance and helping you take better care of your landscape, no matter the weather.
Why Do Trees Need Special Winter Maintenance?
Winter weather can be tough on all kinds of wildlife, and trees face the worst of it. Trees are always exposed to the elements, meaning they have to withstand the harsh winds, rain and snow that the winter can bring without an escape.
Winter poses significant threats to our landscapes, with trees facing all kinds of damage. Frost can cause bark to break and crack; harsh winds can snap off branches; and the freezing temperatures can prevent trees from receiving the hydration they need. Without additional support during the season, trees can face permanent damage and lasting impacts on their health which can hinder your landscape for the rest of time.
However, by implementing some specialised winter tree maintenance throughout the season, you can actively combat these issues and help your trees thrive.
How Healthy Are Your Trees?
Before we can offer winter tree maintenance tips, you first need to assess the current condition of your trees. This will help inform the best course of action moving forward and make it easier for you to determine what kind of care your landscape needs during this time.
Tree surveys are offered by professional arborists, like those at Kneebone Trees, to assess your current tree health and determine whether any additional support is needed. It is a good idea to begin every season with a tree survey or assessment, and the onset of winter is a great opportunity.
Ahead of planning your winter tree maintenance, inspect the current state of your trees. Look out for signs of wear, tear and disease which will need to be addressed during your tree care, such as:
- Dead or Diseased Branches: Dead and diseased branches can cause significant issues during the winter, as they are more likely to snap under the weight of snow or collapse under heavy winds.
- Pests: Though pests are less active in colder months, some are still present and can cause signs of infestation which will need to be addressed.
- Cracked Bark: Freezing temperatures can cause cracks to worsen as they expand, making your tree more damaged as the season progresses.
If you do notice any of these signs of damage, seek treatment as soon as possible to control the impact it may have on your tree’s health long-term. Professional tree surgeons, like those on our team, can help deliver the precise care you need.
Winter Tree Maintenance Tips
Once you have accessed the current condition of your trees, it will be easier to implement the particular winter tree maintenance steps needed. By continuing to care for your trees during the season, you can support lasting tree health and ensure a healthy regrowth come spring.
As leading tree surgeons and tree care experts, we recommend the following winter tree maintenance methods:
Remove Dead, Diseased Or Broken Branches
Ahead of the harshest weather, take some time to prune your trees to remove the dead, diseased or otherwise damaged branches. This is a key part of winter tree maintenance, as these branches in particular face the biggest risk of falling during snow or wind.
Brittle branches, branches growing in the wrong direction or those that show signs of previous damage should be removed first during your winter prune. Pruning in the winter can be easier, as trees typically enter their dormant season and therefore can be easier to manage without the additional growth or leaves.
When pruning trees in winter, or any other time of the year, ensure you are using clean, sharp tools as these give the most precise cut. This ensures that the tree can be repaired as needed and have a healthy regrowth come spring.
Protect Trees From The Elements
There are several ways you can protect your trees from the elements, helping them stay stable, warm and hydrated even during the worst of the weather. Applying additional layers of protection and warmth can be very useful during the winter, but this is a key element of winter tree maintenance for young or thin trunks.
Installing a thermal wrap, such as burlap, tree wraps or canvas sheets can help protect particularly vulnerable trees from the harsh winds and freezing temperatures of the season. When wrapping trees as part of your winter tree maintenance, ensure they continue to have good levels of ventilation while also being securely protected.
Another great tool for protection during the winter is mulch, particularly organic mulch such as fallen leaves or wood chips. Mulch is a great way to maintain soil moisture and temperature during the winter, and can be applied at the base of all trees for additional care this season.
When using organic materials for mulch, make sure there is a gap around the base of the tree to prevent rotting and pests. As these materials decompose, they offer nutrients directly to the root of the tree but can cause issues to the surface level without the right care.
Maintaining Moisture With Regular Watering
Although winter is mainly a wet season, your trees can still become dehydrated without the property winter tree maintenance. This is why watering is still important during this season and something you should aim to do as often as needed.
You can check whether your trees need water by digging a two-inch hole at the base of the tree. If the soil is dry, the tree is dehydrated and needs watering. However, avoid overwatering and ensure to continue these checks as the season progresses as too much standing water can cause the roots to freeze.
Opt For Organic De-Icers
Ice is a common way to combat frost and ice, but it can be harmful to trees. If you are going to be de-icing paths and walkways this season, make sure to avoid getting salt near trees as it can severely damage the roots and cause permanent damage to the tree.
Instead, try using organic de-icers which have no such negative impact on your trees such as sand, gravel, or calcium magnesium acetate. These offer the same benefits in terms of ice reduction, but will not cause damage to your trees’ health.
Pest Control During Winter
While many pests may be dormant during the winter, much like trees themselves, there is still a risk of infection and disease this season. This is why, as part of your winter tree maintenance, you need to make your trees less attractive to pests such as borers and aphids which continue to be active during the season.
Simple winter tree maintenance methods such as clearing fallen leaves, fruit and plant debris as soon as possible can go a long way in reducing the risk of infestations. If left to their own devices, these organic materials can harbour pests and will continue to do so until the spring, putting your tree in major danger.
Maintaining a site clearance routine can be a great tool for winter tree maintenance and help keep your landscape healthy all season long.
How Kneebone Trees Can Help
At Kneebone Trees, we care about the environment and understand the vital role trees play in this. Everything we do is to maintain the health and beauty of trees across the region, and our work does not end once the weather changes.
We continue to provide leading arboricultural services to our clients, offering everything from tree pollarding to emergency tree care, to keep our local landscapes safe.
Winter can be a tough time for our trees, but our team is available to help deliver the care they need and ensure your landscape remains healthy, beautiful and safe no matter the weather.
Conclusion
The harsh conditions of winter can play havoc with all kinds of living creatures and trees are no exception. The wind, rain and frost that the season brings can cause permanent health issues in trees if they are not cared for properly.
In this guide, we have shared some of the best methods for winter tree maintenance so you can play an active role in supporting your landscape and ensuring it will be vibrant again come spring.
Contact Us Today
If you are looking for additional support this winter or want to learn more about what we do, please contact the team today. Kneebone Trees is ready to take on your next project.
