Fall Tree Care Tips: More Than Just Pruning - DiscoverMooseJaw.com

With the arrival of winter, people prepare for winter. Agronomist Sherri Roberts says this practice should be extended to trees as well.

With the ban on pruning elm trees lifted, Roberts reminds homeowners to be sure to trim branches around the house, especially on the roof.

"If you have tree branches that are overhanging your roof, cut them down because you're jeopardizing the health of your shingles, which in turn jeopardizes the health of your entire roof, and once you lose that roof, I mean, Hey, your house is going to be on End up being a complete disaster.

Preparing trees for winter means more than just preventing damage. Roberts reminds you to care for trees before winter to ensure they stay healthy. One aspect of this is to water evergreen plants well.

"Conifers release water through their scales, or needles, throughout the winter. If you don't water them on time before winter, you will only cause them to turn brown. Continue watering until the ground freezes.

Antiperspirant sprays can be used to prevent drying. Roberts mentions them as perfect for trees with an affinity for desiccation, like the dwarf Alberta spruce.

Any tree less than 4 inches in diameter may also need help getting through the winter. Roberts recommends wrapping all of these trees in the fall to prevent sunburn and winter burn.

"In fact, they suffer burns in the winter because the bark is so young and tender. The sun is on the ground, reflected by the snow and warms the cells of the bark tissue that face the sun. Then these cells start to move and at night the temperatures drop and these cells freeze.

Neglecting this aspect of young tree care can result in the tree becoming weaker as it ages.

"You'll see they start to crack and the bark starts to peel off. It is an injury that occurred at a young age, but when the tree begins to increase its diameter and grow, damage occurs due to these cells dead from the cold. I go into people's gardens and they say, 'What can I do about this?' There's nothing; The injury occurred when he was young.

Tree wrap is thin corrugated cardboard with a thin layer of tar that is wrapped around a young tree. It protects the bark in winter and is removed in spring. This should be done every year until the tree is more than four inches in diameter.

Roberts also emphasizes not using nitrogen fertilizers on trees this time of year because it encourages new growth that doesn't have time to harden off in the winter.

"If you fertilize late with nitrogen, you will encourage new growth. Then Mother Nature came along with the freezing temperatures and said, "Not in their lifetime." That's what happens, they die.

Dieback is the gradual death of trees, usually starting at the top of the tree and progressing inward.

Roberts reminds gardeners that they are not done yet and there is still much work to be done before the frost reaches the ground.

"Enjoy the fall because, friends, we know what's coming."

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