The best defense against severe conditions? Preventive care.
Winter can be tough on trees and shrubs. Proactive care can help combat damage caused by winter’s harsh conditions and temperature extremes.
Timely evaluation and services such as pruning,
nutrient treatments, cabling and antidesiccants are vital to tree health. Work with your arborist to discuss the ideal time for tree inspections in preparation for severe conditions. Here are some signs that your trees could use a little extra TLC this season:
- Discolored leaves
- Early leaf drop
- Yellow or brown needles
- Included bark
- Decaying wood
- Cracks on the trunk
Start preparing now!
Pruning
When dormant during cold months, many tree species benefit from pruning as it encourages new growth and minimizes stress. This will improve their overall structure as well as their health, safety and form. Dormant pruning will also reduce or eliminate the insect attraction to open pruning sites. The ideal time to prune different tree species varies, so speak to your arborist to discuss the best option for your trees.
Nutrients
SavATree offers several nutrient options customized to the needs of your landscape that will provide essential nutrients to the root zones of trees and shrubs. Nutrients allow them to produce compounds such as carbohydrates and proteins needed to protect themselves from winter damage and resume growth in the spring. Over time, fertilization and biostimulants will help to develop stronger trunks, branches, and root systems that will be less likely to fail during stressful conditions.
Cabling & Bracing
Cabling protects weak branches and limbs from breakage and provides trees with stability and structural support during strong winds and severe weather.
Antidesiccants
When cold temperatures arrive and the ground freezes, broadleaved evergreen plants struggle to obtain the moisture they need from the soil. Antidesiccants lock in moisture by creating a thin polymer barrier over the leaf stomata (the leaf’s pores). It not only reduces water loss, but it also contains a special sunscreen to minimize browning of foliage.
Being proactive with care is the key to maintaining a beautiful, flourishing landscape. If you take care of your trees in the winter, you’ll be rewarded in the spring!
