Tree care is one of the most important things for a healthy lawn and garden. Fall can be one of the most difficult seasons for homeowners because, like winter months, this is a season during which trees undergo the most stress. If you want to make sure they last through the harsh winter, then fall is the time to start taking care of your trees. Here are a few fall tree care tips Omaha homeowners can get started on to prepare trees for the dormant season ahead.
Fall Tree Care Tips for Omaha Homeowners
Check Its Ecosystem
The first thing you should do with your trees is to check their ecosystem. Is your tree as healthy as it should be entering the fall season? A quick look at what’s living around the tree can tell you more about the tree as a habitat, and what the soil and root systems are like.
Diagnose Any Issues
Certain insects and diseases can affect the leaves, branches, bark, or growth of the tree. The good news is that these issues are usually easy to fix once you’ve been able to establish the source of the problem. Once you are sure that your trees are completely healthy, you can move on to the next steps of tree care.
Clean All Dead Leaves
Cleaning up all dead, fallen leaves is one of the most important things you can do for your tree as the seasons are changing. Cleaning up dead leaves frees up the roots of the tree. Leaving dead leaves at the base of the tree can harm its ability to prepare for the colder seasons still ahead. Not to mention, it also just looks better!
Remove Loose Branches
Tree care is all about the whole tree as a unit. Don’t forget that the branches also make up a very important part of the rest of the tree. While early fall isn’t the best time to trim tree branches, fall is a great time to remove loose branches.
Removing loose branches is a good way to make sure that there’s nothing to obstruct the tree’s further growth. It’s also about safety. Taking away the loose and broken branches also lessens the risk of fallen branches during fall and winter storms.
Restore the Soil
Restore the soil to help the tree flourish well into winter and the years following. The first thing you should do is assess the state of the soil. Is it as healthy as it should be for the environment and type of tree? If you are unsure about the type of tree you are working with, consult with a local arborist to learn more about the perfect soil conditions for your type of tree.
Soil restoration can be as simple as choosing the right compost mixture. Make sure that your composting mix isn’t too acidic, or you might have the opposite effect and burn the root system of the tree instead of helping it.
Hydrate Before the Winter
It’s important to hydrate the tree enough before the winter months arrive. Watering your trees in the fall will help to give the tree enough water to make it through the harsh winter weather conditions.
At the same time, it is important to not overwater your trees. Overwatering can cause issues like decaying roots, which can backfire when the growing season arrives.
Nourish the Tree
There is more to tree care than making sure the soil conditions are right and watering the tree. Some trees require extra nutrients to keep them healthy throughout winter. The fall months are a great time to introduce nutrients to the tree with nourishment mixtures given through the base.
The nourishment mixture and the best time to treat the tree will depend on the type and condition of the tree. Do some research or consult with a tree care professional on what nutrients your tree can benefit the most from.
Tree Services of Omaha
Tree Services of Omaha, Nebraska is a full-service tree care provider that offers a wide range of arborist services including but not limited to: Tree Removal Services, Tree Trimming, Tree Pruning, Tree and Shrub Shaping, Stump Removal, Stump Grinding, Arborist Consultations, Systemic Tree Injections.
Contact us today for a free estimate!
