Your Tree Service Checklist To Prepare For Winter Weather

Winter can be a difficult time of year for your trees. The cold and snow ravage the leaves, branches, and even the roots. In order to keep your tree healthy this winter season, you should have a checklist of tasks that need to be completed in order to prepare for winter weather. We will discuss what these tasks are here so that you have everything ready when it is needed!

Inspect Your Trees

First, you should have a tree care professional come to your property and inspect the trees. They will be able to spot any issues that may arise over winter or even provide preventative measures so that they are less likely to happen. This is especially important for large trees in close proximity to your home! It can also help with identifying smaller problems before they turn into something larger.

If you’re not able to have an ISA-certified arborist take a look at your trees, here are some tips on things you can do yourself before the harsh winter weather takes hold!

Prune Your Trees

Remove any dead or dying branches from the trees on your property. If possible, these should be removed throughout autumn and winter so that it does not become an issue during a snowfall when limbs can fall more easily. Having them trimmed back before snowfall, ice, and wind can help to prevent damage to your property or injury to people on your property. Having an ISA-certified arborist come to prune your tree for winter is the best option to make sure your trees can survive the winter weather.

Clean Up Leaves

You will also want to make sure that all of the leaves are cleaned up from your lawn and garden. Not only is it unsightly, but the leaves can create an ideal environment for pests and diseases to grow in over winter. By removing them, you are helping to protect your trees from these issues.

Water Your Trees

Make sure that the trees on your property are getting an adequate amount of water during winter. This is especially important if there has been a lack of rainfall. Arborists recommend watering your trees once to two times a month throughout winter, depending on the weather conditions. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you’re giving your trees 10 gallons of water per diameter inch of tree. You can use a simple rain gauge to measure how much water your trees are getting!

Protect the Trunk

If you have trees that are susceptible to rodents or other pests, you will want to make sure to protect the trunk of the tree. One way to do this is by using a rodent guard. This is a metal cylinder that fits around the trunk of the tree. How you install the guard depends on the rodent you’re trying to keep away. For example, a pole-mounted guard should be installed at least four feet off the ground and angled out from the tree to prevent climbing rodents.

If your tree is young or susceptible to sunscald, you may also want to use a sunscald protector. This is a white or light-colored material that you install around the trunk of the tree. It reflects sunlight and helps to prevent sunscald, which can damage trees in winter.

Remove Snow and Ice

If you have trees near your home or driveway that are susceptible to snow and ice accumulation, you will want to remove the snow/ice as soon as possible. This is especially important if there are branches hanging near your property. Snow and ice can create the perfect environment for branches to break under their weight, which can cause damage or injury. Using a tree spade is an easy way to do this.

If you are unable to remove snow/ice yourself, be sure that someone on your property knows how so they know what actions to take if it becomes necessary!

Mulch

Make sure to give your trees a fresh layer of mulch to keep your tree’s roots warm. Mulch will not only help the roots keep warm but also make sure the tree is not getting too dry. Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil.

Fertilize

If your tree has been growing and healthy during spring and summer, it may need fertilizer to continue to grow. Look for an appropriate fertilizer at your favorite nursery or contact an ISA-certified arborist, like TreeNewal, to check if your tree needs fertilizer. TreeNewal can make a special fertilizer especially for your tree and its needs.

Brace Your Tree

If your tree is young or a sapling, consider bracing your tree to help it grow stronger. Bracing your tree can help strengthen the trunk and give it support so that it does not break under snow or ice. Bracing will also keep branches from breaking in high winds, which is another hazard during winter weather.

Remind Your Neighbors

Be sure to take some time this winter to talk with your neighbors about their trees! We can help make the world a better place by having healthy trees everywhere. This starts by talking to your neighbors, friends, and family about tree care. If your neighbor is looking for a tree care service, remind them to contact TreeNewal! The best ISA-certified arborists in north Texas.

Your Winter Tree Service Checklist

• Inspect Your Trees
• Prune Your Trees
• Clean Up Leaves
• Water Your Trees
• Protect the Trunk
• Remove Snow and Ice
• Mulch
• Fertilize
• Brace Your Tree
• Remind Your Neighbors

Thank you for reading our guide: Your Tree Service Checklist To Prepare For Winter Weather! If you’re looking for more tips for winter tree care, check out our blogs:

• PREVENTATIVE CARE ON TREES FOR THE WINTER SEASON
• WINTER STORM URI – THE EFFECTS IT HAD ON NORTH TEXAS TREES

If you need support with your tree this winter. Contact TreeNewal and have an ISA-certified arborist help you! Our Denton, Southlake, DFW-based tree care teams are here to help.

To learn more about Your Tree Service Checklist To Prepare For Winter Weather, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams

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

We’re a little different than the average tree services company.

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.