As the weather cools and the leaves begin to change, many people get back into their gardens. The dead leaves and sticks from the trees need to be pruned and mulched. The bases around the trees need fresh mulch for the cold winter months. And now is a great time to plant to get those roots established before the ground freezes, so you can have a beautiful tree in the spring.
Paramount Tree Care is here to help with these recommendations for your fall prep. They are certified in tree care and health and are here to meet your needs with all the equipment and manpower.
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1. Corrective Pruning:
- Trim branches that interfere with the natural growth of other branches
- Trim all branches that touch or are close to touching the home
- Trim branches that overhang on walkways, sidewalks, roofs, structures
2. Structural Pruning
- Trimming your trees into the correct wide-angle crotches vs the "V" shaped crotches can help them to be stronger and more resistant to damage caused by storms, snow, and ice.
- Remove these branches, but caution to not cut flush with the trunk, correct location is important and where Paramount Tree Care can help.
3. Pruning Flowering Shrubs
- Fall is the time to cut back the tops of your perennials, summer-flowering shrubs, and roses.
- Careful not to prune rose plants too severely. Remove dead flowers and the upper one-third of the cane. This will prevent them from breaking under the weight of a heavy snow.
4. Thinning
- Fall is also the time to prune large, overgrown shrubs. It is recommended to thin rather than shear tops, this allows you to maintain the shape while reducing the size.
- Flowering shrubs need special care to remove branches without reducing the spring blooms. Shearing could reduce and destroy the spring blooms.
- If you would like to reduce the height of a shrub, then cut some major canes but leave the remainder of the plant without pruning.
5. Cleaning Up
- Remove any dead, dying, rotted, insect infested, diseased, or broken branches. This helps you by not having to use as many pesticides, but it also allows the tree to receive more light and be healthier.
6. Planting Trees in Fall
- Fall is the best time to plant trees; the warm soil with the cool air stimulates root growth well before the ground freezes.
- Consider the long term look you want to achieve, ground cover, shade, fruit, flowers, etc.
- Give your new trees proper space to fully mature. Follow the recommendations for spacing and height or this could cause damage to structures or other plants.
- Cover surrounding holes with sufficient mulch to keep the roots warm and moist through the winter. Make sure to leave approximate 2 inches around the trunk to prevent disease.
- Water new planted trees 2-3 times a week until freezing temps start. This will allow the roots to grow sufficiently for when the cold temperatures come.
Fall tree pruning encourages fresh, new growth, protects your home, and keeps your structures safe. Contact Paramount Tree Care for assistance.
References:
Fall Tree Pruning and Trimming Guide for Gardeners by DreamWorks Tree Services.
Planting Trees and Shrubs in the Fall by Miracle Gro
