North Texas Winter Tree Care Tips Part 2

Date October 27, 2022

Category

Author TreeNewal Staff

As we all hunker down for the cold weather, it’s important that we don’t forget about our trees. North Texas trees are particularly vulnerable during the winter, and taking proper care of them can mean the difference between life and death. Fortunately, winter tree care can be simple with an ISA Certified Arborist on your side! From pruning to winter inspection to treating insects and diseases, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we’ll offer a few more winter tree care tips so you can keep your trees healthy and prepared for the new year.

Be sure to read part one of this blog post here: Preparing for Winter: Winter Tree Care

Why Do North Texas Trees Become Dormant?

To recap, trees enter a state of dormancy in winter to conserve energy and prepare for the next growing season. The shorter days and cold temperatures signal trees to slow down their food-making process and shed their leaves. Since they’re dormant and not dead, trees still use energy, similar to how animals hibernate. However, inconsistent weather patterns can make it difficult for trees to know when to wake back up. An unusually warm, sunny day can trick a tree into thinking spring came early. This mistake can be extremely costly to tree health, so it’s essential that we take steps to ensure they can adapt to whatever weather comes our way.

Winter Tree Care Checklist

Follow these winter tree care tips, and your trees should be healthy and well-prepared to take advantage of the following season!

Winter Tree Inspection

Trees need regular health checkups just like us, and winter is the perfect time to do so. If you haven’t already, schedule your winter tree inspection with a TreeNewal ISA Certified Arborist. Without leaf coverage, there is more visibility to identify signs of insects, diseases, and injuries sustained by mechanical equipment. A Dallas tree care specialist can also determine whether there are any structural problems and perform corrective tree pruning to mitigate issues before they become severe.

Winter Tree Pruning

Tree pruning during the fall and winter months offers numerous health benefits for your tree and improves the safety of your property. Winter storms and strong winds can cause overhanging branches to snap, damaging anything below. When done correctly, tree trimming and pruning can help your tree manage its energy during dormancy by removing any broken, dead, or diseased branches your tree might be trying to mend. By sourcing the energy into developing its root system or other areas, your tree can utilize its resources more efficiently. Besides correcting structural problems, tree trimming can control the growth of your tree before it outgrows your space, giving you more time to address potential safety hazards.

Mistletoe Removal

Winter is the perfect time to remove mistletoe from existing trees. Despite popular belief, mistletoe can harm tree health by deriving water and nutrients from their host. A mistletoe infection can weaken the tree’s ability to defend against parasites and heal decay and wounds. An ISA Certified Arborist can safely and effectively remove mistletoe infection on trees before it spreads to other limbs and nearby plants.

Fall Tree Fertilization

Applying a slow-release fertilizer in the fall before winter sets in will give your trees a steady supply of nutrients, allowing their root system to continue developing beneath the soil. While there won’t be any visible new growth, a robust root system is the foundation of a healthy tree regardless of the season. However, some fertilizers can do more harm than good. Forcing tree growth during freezing temperatures can cause severe damage, so it’s always best to consult an ISA Certified Arborist to help you find the best fertilizer for your tree’s needs.

Tree Insect and Disease Management

Many tree pests overwinter on North Texas trees before they emerge in the spring to wreak havoc on our landscapes. Applying dormant oils when trees are completely dormant can prevent the spread or kill off tree insects that may be nesting in your trees this season.

For more severe infestations like emerald ash borers, having a tree care expert apply preventative treatments to your ash trees is paramount to their survival. This invasive tree insect has killed millions of ash trees across the country. While there is no known cure, committing to preventative treatments from a Dallas tree care specialist can significantly increase your tree’s longevity.

Fall and winter are also the perfect time to treat your trees for iron chlorosis, a severe and common threat to North Texas tree health. An ISA Certified Arborist can determine the source of your tree’s iron deficiency and apply the correct treatment to maximize effectiveness benefits for your tree.

If you need help with iron chlorosis, tree pests, or North Texas tree diseases, call (817) 592-6846. TreeNewal’s ISA Certified Arborists have years of experience diagnosing and treating Dallas/Fort Worth trees and can provide expert advice and assistance.

Winter Tree Watering

One of the most important things you can do for your trees during winter is to water them properly. Cold, dry soil can quickly dehydrate trees and leave them vulnerable to winter damage. Water also helps to conserve warm temperatures, keeping the roots protected and giving them an optimal environment to grow. Continue to water your trees until the ground freezes or temperatures drop below 40 degrees.

For more winter tree watering tips, check out our blog Winter Watering Tips for North Texas Trees: The Complete Guide

Mulch North Texas Trees in Winter

Mulching your trees during winter provides many benefits, such as maintaining moisture levels, preventing soil erosion, and insulating the roots. A layer of mulch will help protect them from freezing temperatures and can offer nutrients and beneficial microorganisms if you use organic. Pay careful attention not to pile the mulch too high or get it on the trunk. Doing so can keep the soil and trunk wet and attract North Texas tree fungi like sooty mold and powdery mildew.

TreeNewal Winter Tree Care

As the best tree service company in North Texas, TreeNewal’s team of tree care experts has helped countless trees through the winter by providing industry-leading services to residential and commercial property owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Our ISA Certified Arborist would be more than happy to help you create a customized tree maintenance plan to keep your trees healthy year-round. Contact us today to learn more!

TreeNewal is a full-service sustainable tree care company offering residential and commercial tree services in Dallas, Argyle, Denton, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Southlake, and Westlake. Contact our Dallas tree care specialists at (817) 592-6846 and enjoy tailored tree care advice and the best tree health services in North Texas!

 

To learn more about North Texas Winter Tree Care Tips Part 2, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams

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

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Learn more about TreeNewal’s ISA Certified Arborists!

Our Dallas/Fort Worth-based tree doctors can explain how sustainable tree care services add more value to your bottom line.

Healthy trees, healthy lives.