As soon as September arrives and there’s a slight chill in the air, attention shifts to the cozy comfort of fall. While trees have no opinion on pumpkin spice, they do have preferences when it comes to maintenance tasks. Now’s a great time to get them through the season and prepare for winter so they bounce back in spring. Here are some fall tree care tips to help ensure trees stay comfy throughout the rest of the year.

Fall Tree Care Tips

Now that the weather is more mild, it gives you and your trees a breather before the next harsh season arrives. Here’s what to do in between apple picking and pumpkin decorating.

1. Rake. Remove excess leaves from your yard to prevent smothering your grass. If you grind it up with your mower, it makes a great mulch for your lawn and garden.
2. Aerate. Combat compacted soil to improve root health and nutrient absorption.
3. Mulch. Add a layer of fresh mulch around the base of your tree—away from the trunk. This helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and suppress weeds.
4. Water. Tree roots need to be well-hydrated before the winter. If you plant a new tree this fall or there’s been little rain, make sure to water deeply to help promote deeper root growth.
5. Inspect. Look for signs of pests or disease. Any abnormal growth, discolored leaves or bark, and other issues should be addressed before they become a major problem.
6. Prune. Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged tree branches. They’re easy to notice this time of year if the leaves have already fallen from dead spots or if you notice damage once the leaves are gone.
7. Protect. New trees and some vulnerable species may need additional support over the winter. Stake trees to help keep them upright, wrap tree trunks to guard against sunscald. and use wire mesh or another barrier to keep rodents and other wildlife away.
8. Plan. While fall is a good time to plant some trees, if you’re waiting for spring it’s still important to pick the right site and prepare the area so you’re ready to go once the ground thaws next year.

If you’ve followed the tips and found some issues during inspection, contact Elite Tree Care to help. Some problems may only get worse in the winter, so you want to take care of anything as soon as possible. Plus, pest and disease prevention methods are more likely to take hold this time of year and continue to protect your plants until he next growing season.

Celebrate Fall with Elite Tree Care

If you’d rather enjoy the fall weather and have someone else take care of tree maintenance, we can help with that too. From tree pruning and removal to planting and preservation, our team of specialists are ready to inspect, treat, and prep your plants for thriving in any season. Call 610-935-2279 for a consultation.