Fall Tree Care Tips: 11 Things to Do for Your Trees This Fall

Date September 08, 2022

Category

Author TreeNewal Staff

Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy the crisp weather and autumn leaf coloration. It’s also an important season for tree care! Taking proactive care of your trees is essential to protecting them during winter and giving them the support to thrive next spring. In this blog post, we’ll discuss 11 things you should do for your trees this fall. From fertilization to removing dead leaves and branches, we’ve got you covered. Keep your trees healthy and thriving all season with these essential fall tree care tips!

While fall tree care is important, many of the following services are required year-round. If you need tree care advice or assistance, contact a TreeNewal tree care expert at (817) 592-6846.

Tree Care Tips
1. Soil care – Trees growing in forest environments get all the essential elements they need through organic matter and fallen leaves. This is not the case for urban landscapes, so keeping your soil nutrient-rich and fertile is the key to healthy, resilient trees. Our ISA Certified Arborists can conduct soil testing to ensure it has enough essential elements to support your trees.

2. Tree fertilizer – Although trees need nutrition all year, applying slow-release fertilizer in the fall supplies nutrients to your trees slowly and steadily through the following seasons. Consistent access to nutrients allows trees to grow new leaves and develop their root systems.

3. Mulch – Applying a new layer of mulch around the base of your trees adds organic matter back into the soil, conserves moisture, maintains soil temperature, and increases resilience against soil compaction and erosion. Instead of piling new mulch on top of an existing layer, rake or remove as much of the old mulch away before applying a fresh layer. Spreading the mulch out to the drip line ensures all roots are protected, but if this isn’t practical, it should at least cover 2 to 3 feet of the tree trunk radius. The mulch should be applied to a depth of about 2 to 4 inches, avoiding contact with the trunk.

4. Keep your trees hydrated – Fall is the perfect time of year to give your trees enough water to help them survive winter. Evergreens like live oak, magnolia, eastern red cedar, cypress, and spruce trees significantly benefit from fall watering. Homeowners should water deeply and thoroughly 1 to 2 times a week, focusing on the critical root zone. The soil should stay moist but not saturated.

5. Irrigation – While some trees thrive with more water, it’s important to note that some need less. This is because dormant trees require less water, and evaporation from leaves is slowed. Irrigation systems that help trees survive the summer heat and drought should be reduced or turned off. The soil should stay moist and cool to the touch. If irrigation systems continue providing summer watering, soil can flood, suffocating roots and spreading disease.

6. Fall cleaning – Homeowners should keep their lawns in great shape by removing fallen leaves and branches. Not only does this improve your landscape aesthetics, but it also avoids spreading diseases, pests, and mold.
Pro tip: Toss your raked-up leaves in the compost bin to use as mulch next year!

7. Tree trimming – Since trees are dormant during the fall and winter, it’s an excellent time for annual tree trimming and pruning. Tree trimming allows you to control the tree’s shape and improve its structure.

8. Tree pruning – Tree pruning is essential to tree maintenance and is necessary to keep your property safe. Pruning dead branches and diseased limbs avoids the risk of them falling during a storm or heavy winds. Tree trimming and pruning can be dangerous without the skills of a tree care expert, so always contact a TreeNewal tree surgeon to ensure the task is done safely and maximizes tree health benefits.

9. Support limbs – Some weaker trees or limbs may need additional reinforcements to combat winter weather conditions. Support cables can stabilize the tree’s structure, allowing it to maintain its integrity during storms and strong winds. However, cabling cannot keep dead or dying trees from falling apart.

10. Tree inspection – When the leaves have fallen from your trees, you have more visibility to inspect them for signs of diseases, pests, and mold. You may be able to spot structural problems and take steps to correct them before they become dangerous. If you’re concerned about your tree’s health, immediately contact an ISA Certified Arborist.

11. Tree planting – Spring and fall are the best times to plant trees in Dallas/Fort Worth. Trees benefit from the warm soil temperatures following summer and before the start of winter. Tree planting in the fall allows root systems to develop and become established. When spring rolls around, the tree will be able to thrive and take advantage of the surge in new growth.

While many tree care tips are beneficial during the fall, they shouldn’t be reserved for this season. Routine tree care and maintenance are required to ensure your trees stay healthy and resilient all year. Contact a TreeNewal ISA Certified Arborist for comprehensive tree care services in Dallas/Fort Worth.

TreeNewal Fall Tree Services

TreeNewal is a sustainable full-service tree care company committed to preserving and promoting North Texas tree health. Our ISA Certified Arborists have the experience and knowledge to help you keep your trees healthy year-round. Our tree care services include tree nutrition, soil conditioning, tree health assessment, trimming, pruning, and more. Contact us or give us a call at (817) 592-6846 and enjoy industry-leading tree care services.

To learn more about Fall Tree Care Tips: 11 Things to Do for Your Trees This Fall?, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams

at (817) 592-6846 or send us a message.

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