Must-Do Fall Prep for Strong Spring Growth

As temperatures shift and the growing season winds down, fall is your final chance to prepare your landscape for the winter months. Strategic, seasonal care now means fewer issues in spring and healthier, more resilient trees year-round.

Prepare for Wind and Storms

High winds blowing against limbs that may already be compromised due to health problems or hidden structural defects can create a dangerous situation. Professional pruning, cabling, and bracing will minimize the risk of storm-related damage and preserve the structure and beauty of your trees.

Prepare for Strong Spring Growth

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving landscape. Before winter, it's extremely beneficial to perform a soil test, apply compost or mulch, adjust soil pH if necessary, and support root development to help ensure strong spring growth next year. For trees, shrubs, and ornamentals that may be struggling with early defoliation, slow growth, or yellowing leaves, the application of biostimulants or deep root fertilization may be required.

Give Your Trees the Hydration They Need

Even after the heat breaks, trees may still be feeling the effects of a dry stretch, especially in semi-arid and dry regions. Our ArborWatering and Recharge® services provide slow, deep hydration directly to the root zone where it is most effective. This helps reduce stress and supports healthy recovery, especially for newly planted trees or in soil that doesn’t hold moisture well.

Check for Insects or Fungal Issues

If you experienced insect or disease conditions on your trees or plants this summer and did not treat it, we will likely recommend biostimulants to help recover from stress, and we may be able to provide curative treatment now. However, the important thing to do is plan for early spring treatment. Review the signs of insect, mite, and disease conditions on the back page and let your arborist know if you've noticed any signs or symptoms now so you can create a prevention plan for next year.

Give Your Lawn a Strong Start for the Spring Green Up

In cool hardiness zones, it’s important to fertilize your lawn two times in the fall, starting in September, depending on your climate, to build stronger roots for next year. When top growth slows, apply an all-mineral fertilizer to fuel winter health. In warm hardiness zones, fertilization should taper off by late fall, depending on your turf type. Warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda and St. Augustine, benefit from timely pre-emergent weed control and light nutrient support. And in hot hardiness zones, fall lawn care focuses on rebuilding soil health. Fertilization tapers off by late fall, and pre-emergent weed control is vital to help reduce competition from invasive species.

Schedule a consultation today to create a customized fall and winter plan for your property.