During the fall months, trees are doing a lot of hard work preparing for the harsh winter ahead.  There are a few simple steps you can take to make this transition easier on the trees you love.

Pruning:

Prune dead, diseased and overlapping branches in late fall. This will strengthen the tree, encourage new strong growth in the spring, minimize potential future storm damage and protect against overwintering disease and insects.

Remove all deadwood that is clearly visible. Prune back branches that can touch the ground when loaded with rain and snow. Foliage and branches that are in contact with soil invite undesirable pests and other problems. Remove damaged and wilted twigs, branches and bark.  Remove any new sprouts that have grown at the tree base, or along stems and branches.

Mulch and Aerate:

Mulch adds a layer of protection against temperature fluctuations and moisture.  Spread a layer of mulch to cover the soil several inches deep. Cover an area at least as large as the branch spread. In addition to protecting feeder roots, mulch also recycles nutrients directly to these roots.

Aerate soils and compacted mulch if they are water logged or poorly drained. Saturated and dense soil can suffocate roots. It is critical not to damage the tree roots in the soil as you do this, so work only on those few inches at the surface crust.

Fertilize and Water:

Fertilize your trees by top dressing over the mulch with a balanced fertilizer. Avoid using fertilizer heavy in nitrogen. Nitrogen boosts growth, especially in new and mature trees.  You do not want a “flush” of growth during late fall periods of warming, when the tree is supposed to be dormant. Want help? Contact our Arborists, we can come out and analyze your trees to determine if fertilization and pruning is needed.

Dry spells in winter or hot daytime temperatures can dry a tree out very quickly. Watering is needed on warm winter days when soils are cool but not frozen, and there has been little precipitation. Winter droughts need treatment with water the same as summer droughts, except it is much easier to over-water in winter.

Dormant Spray:

A dormant spray may be a good idea for deciduous trees, ornamentals, fruit trees and shrubs. Remember to prune before you spray.  No need in wasting time and money by spraying before you cut!

Which chemicals you use are important. Dormant sprays include lime, copper and sulfur combinations to kill overwintering microorganisms. Dormant oil controls insects and their eggs.  Ask your local arborist for suggestions based on your bug problems.

Your trees are now ready to face the winter cold!

Source: http://forestry.about.com/od/foresthealth/a/winterize_trees.htm