Take care of your most vulnerable trees
Before the cold weather really sets in, take the time to do a quick ‘tree inventory’ and identify any trees that might be particularly vulnerable to cold weather.
Young trees and tropical trees will need a helping hand to thrive throughout the coldest months; get your frost covers on early, and pop a quick layer of mulch around the base. (Every tree in your garden will benefit from a layer of winter mulch, but it’s especially important for your most vulnerable trees).
Very young trees, or trees that are used to much warmer climates, can also benefit from wrapping during winter. As well as insulating the trees and preventing frost cracking, wrapping gives your trees an extra layer of protection from pests.
Find more tips on pre-winter mulching in our ‘Preparing your trees for winter’ blog.
Check trees after a storm
Wild winter weather is never pleasant, but for trees it can be downright dangerous. Check your trees for broken or damaged branches after a big storm or high winds, paying extra attention to older trees, which may be more brittle and therefore more susceptible to storm damage.
If you find any damaged branches, it’s important to have these safely removed as soon as possible. Once a branch has been damaged its structural integrity is compromised, meaning it’s more likely to break in future and potentially endanger people or property.
This is one of the reasons we recommend tree pruning during winter; it’s an opportunity for you (or your arborist) to spot and remove any cracked or damaged branches before they come down in the next storm.
There are other benefits to winter pruning: pruning deciduous trees is much easier during winter, when you can clearly see the structure of the tree, and winter pruning promotes new growth in spring.
Keep trees hydrated
Even though the weather might feel constantly cold and damp, trees still need watering during winter. Winter watering, like mulching, is especially important for young trees.
If your trees aren’t showing any visible signs of dehydration and you’re not sure whether or not to water, do a quick soil check by digging a few centimetres into the soil and seeing how it feels to the touch. If it’s damp and sticks to your finger, you don’t need to water. However, if the soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to give your trees some hydration. Avoid watering when the ground is frozen, or when the temperature is below freezing.
If you’d like a helping hand to keep your trees healthy during winter, get in touch with the Treetech team for a personalised treecare plan.
