I tend to get a lot of calls from homeowners right around the beginning of October, saying their trees look stressed before the first hard freeze, and they ask me what they should have done differently.
Autumn is actually the season where what you do for your trees sets up how they handle the winter, and come back strong in the spring.
Here’s exactly what I do for trees in October and November, and why I think each step matters.
Deep water your trees before the ground freezes. Most people stop watering when they shut off their sprinkler system before it cools off, but here in Northern Utah it’s common for trees to be already dry from the summer. That’s why I always recommend a deep and slow soak right at the drip line, to give the roots the moisture they need to survive a cold and windy winter. You can do this in late October with a soaker hose for a few hours, if your irrigation system is already shut down for the season.
Check on the tree’s root collar. Sometimes trees have “volcano mulch” or are planted too deep, and that means they go into the winter with a root collar that can’t breathe. Pull the wood chips, dirt or rocks back away from the flare so it’s visible.
Note any signs of stress. Before the trees drop all their leaves, walk around your property and look for canopy thinning, dead branch tips or discoloration. Trees are more likely to suffer damage during the winter if they’re already stressed from bark beetles, drought or root problems, and this is the right time to deal with it.
Protect young trees. Any tree that’s been planted recently hasn’t had a chance to build enough of a root mass to handle a hard freeze. You can wrap their trunks with commercial crepe paper or burlap, and give some extra water.
Don’t do any heavy pruning. Autumn isn’t the right time for major structural cuts to your trees. Pruning can trigger new growth that won’t have time to harden before it gets cold, and if you think about it cuts are open wounds, and they’ll take more time to heal in cold temperatures.
I actually wrote a post recently about why your trees need more than just rain, and the same logic applies right now. If you think drought stress has taken a toll on your trees, read about our drought protection and winter watering protocol. But if you’re not sure if your trees are ready for winter, that’s exactly what our fall assessment is for. Give me a call at (801) 403-4496 and I’ll walk your property with you.