Winter is a time when many living things—including humans—may prefer to slow down and just chill. Even though trees go dormant this season, they still need attention, especially during and after a storm. Read these winter tree care tips with a cup of cocoa, then get to work if needed.

Winter Tree Care Tips

When it comes to maintaining your property, proper care is essential all year long. With the right care and attention, trees can withstand the challenges of winter and emerge strong and vibrant in the spring. Here’s how to give trees the attention they deserve.

• Mulch. It’s like wrapping the roots in a warm winter blanket. The soil in a constant state of freezing and thawing. This can lead to a number of problems, including compaction. Apply a few inches of mulch around the base of your tree to help insulate and regulate soil temperature and moisture levels.
• Hydrate. Trees may not need as much water as in the summer months, but they still needs some. Monitor soil moisture between storms and thaws and provide adequate water when necessary.
• Protection. Between scalding sun reflected off white snow, frosted branches, and hungry wildlife, there’s a lot your tree may face this season. Help protect bark and other areas prone to damage with tree wraps or barriers.
• Pruning. It’s finally time for tree pruning! Like always, it’s important to remove dead or damaged branches. But when your tree is dormant, you can also help reshape the structure by removing crisscrossing branches. Don’t go too crazy and remove more than a third of the weight. Tree topping is also not recommended.
• Removing snow and ice. If you notice branches being weighed down by heavy snow and ice, gently remove it to help prevent breakage. Snow can be brushed with a broom. Ice should be allowed to melt since attempting to break it off could bring the branch with it. Also, be aware that deicing salts can harm tree roots and soil. If you need to treat ice on the ground, close to a tree, use an alternative method such as sand or litter.
• Inspection. Now that the tree is bare, it’s an excellent time to inspect it for signs of disease, pests, or structural issues. Treat any problems you find before it spreads or the leaves grow back and makes it less noticeable.

Professional Tree Care

If you’d rather stay in hibernation mode this season but still want to contribute to the long-term health and beauty of your landscape, contact Elite Tree Care to help. Our tree care specialists are busy supporting trees throughout the winter so they stay more resilient in the seasons to come.