As summer begins to come to an end, it is a good time to start thinking about fall tree care. The stunning New England autumn foliage will be here before we know it and while the hotter months may be behind us, there are still ways to properly care for the trees on your property.
The following are some helpful fall tree care tips to consider over the next few months:
- Avoid pruning in the fall. Fall is the time of year where fungus spreads rapidly and cuts on trees take longer to heal. Unless tree branches are dead or diseased, put down the pruning shears.
- Fall can be a great time to plant new trees. The temperatures will be a bit cooler and won’t create as much stress as some of the summer months. Less stress on a tree allows for a stronger root system to develop.
- If planting new trees in the fall, be sure to properly water them. A long and deep watering helps the roots to grow downwards, making them stronger; whereas a short and shallow watering creates roots that grow upwards and end up becoming weak.
- For more mature trees: stop watering at the beginning of fall and allow all of the leaves to drop. Once the leaves have dropped, begin watering again until the first freeze so that the roots have enough water to last throughout the winter drought.
- If planting new trees in the fall, remember that here in New England, our winters can be very cold and harsh. A good way to protect young trees is by laying 3-6 inches of mulch at the base of the tree after the first freeze. Avoid placing the mulch right up against the trunk to avoid moisture getting trapped and creating fungus growth.
If you have any questions regarding fall tree care, please don’t hesitate to contact Green Trees Arborcare at: 508-384-2992 or click here to reach us on the web. We are more than happy to assist you in the health of your trees!
