Winter – a season of chill, snow, and frosty mornings. As humans, we prepare for it by getting our coats out, heating our homes, and sipping on warm beverages. But what about our trees? How do they brace for the cold?
Winter tree care isn’t just about ensuring that the tree survives the season. It’s about setting them up for a vibrant spring. Here’s an easy to follow checklist for taking care of your greenery during the colder months. And if you’re in doubt about anything or need more information about a specific tree service, just pick up the phone. Help is one call away.
Download our Tree Care Tips for the Winter checklist.
What will Oregon’s summer drought mean for your trees?
We’ve had a crazy dry summer here in Grants Pass, with devastating wildfires across the state. More than half of Oregon experienced moderate to severe drought, according to a state report released in August. Our summers continue to get hotter, but what does this all mean for your trees as we enter the winter?
A dry summer often spells danger for property owners ahead of the fall and winter periods. Some trees might have become more brittle or formed structural defects with the lack of water and nutrients, so we recommend that you consult with a local arborist for a health inspection to determine if there is any potential risk.
Importance of Winter Tree Care
Winter tree care isn’t just about ensuring that the tree survives the season. It’s about setting it up for a vibrant spring.
Imagine spring without the lush green trees or colorful blooms. Tough, right? Trees that are well-taken care of during the winter have a head start once the warmer months roll in. They’re healthier, stronger, and ready to bloom.
Inspect your trees
Take a walk around your garden. Look for signs of damage, pests, or diseases. Early detection is key.
After a dry summer and drought there are noticeable dead patches on many large conifers around the Grants Pass and neighboring cities.
On your own property you also may notice a few of your deciduous trees shedding leaves earlier than usual. And also some with brown edges on the leaves. The brown edges are indicative of leaf scorch, and premature leaf drop can indeed be a drought response. Trees drop leaves as a mechanism to reduce water loss through transpiration. It’s their way of conserving the little water they have.
When a large number of leaves are harmed, the tree struggles to harness the necessary energy from the sun. This impacts the plant’s capacity to generate its own energy. This energy is vital for the tree’s growth and its ability to ward off illnesses.
Lack of nourishment
The transition from a hot, dry summer to winter can be tough on trees, especially if they’re already stressed. Trees use water not just for nourishment but also to prepare for the colder months. If they can’t properly hydrate and store nutrients due to drought conditions, they might enter winter in a weakened state. This can make them more susceptible to winter injuries like frost cracks and sunscald.
Do you suspect some other tree issue? You might need more of a comprehensive tree diagnosis to investigate what the underlying issue is.
Tree Care Tips for Homeowners Ahead of Winter
- Inspect your trees – monitor for anything out of the ordinary. Premature leaf drop on deciduous trees, leaves with brown edges (leaf scorch), noticeable dead patches on large conifers (result of drought)
- Mulching: Think of mulch as a cozy blanket for the tree’s roots. It helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and prevent weed growth. Ensure you don’t pile the mulch against the trunk; leave a gap to prevent rot and pests.
- Watering: Trees still need water in winter, especially young ones. Our recommendation is to Water Deeply and Infrequently. Water them during dry spells, but avoid watering when the soil is frozen or when temperatures are extremely low.
- Pruning: Pruning is like a haircut for trees. It helps them grow better and look good. Dead or weakened branches should be removed to prevent them from breaking under the weight of snow or ice. This also directs energy to the healthier parts of the tree.
- Winter Wrapping: Especially for young trees, consider using a tree wrap, or white tree guards to protect them from frost, sunscald, and pests. Remove the wraps in spring to allow the tree to breathe.
- Guarding Against Frostbite – Young and newly planted trees are especially vulnerable. Use frost cloths or burlap to protect them during frosty nights.
- Protection from Wildlife: Small mammals like rabbits or rodents may chew on tree bark in winter when food is scarce. Protect trees with physical barriers, such as wire mesh, around the base of the trunk.
- Battling Winter Sunscald – This happens when the tree’s bark gets warm from the winter sun and then rapidly cools down at night, causing damage. Protective tree wraps can help.
- Fighting Winterburn – Winterburn is when needles or tree tips turn from green to brown. Wrapping, fertilizer, and hydration are good tree care practices to prevent it.
- Storm Damage and Hazardous Trees – Following a windstorm take a walk around your yard to look for any hazardous limbs. Inspect power lines, branches in close proximity to your home, and trees above sidewalks in front of your property.
- Avoid Salt Damage: If you use de-icing salts on nearby pathways, be mindful that runoff can harm trees. Opt for tree-friendly de-icing products or create a barrier to protect the tree’s root zone from salt exposure.
- Tree Stability: Check the stability of larger trees, especially those that have shown signs of leaning or have large, heavy branches. Snow and ice accumulation can cause these branches to break. Gently remove heavy snow from branches within reach to reduce pressure on that limb.
- Inspection of Roots and Soil: Examine the area around the tree roots for signs of erosion or soil compaction. These can affect a tree’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. Aeration might be necessary to improve soil conditions.
- Monitoring for Frost Heave: In areas where the ground freezes and thaws, watch for frost heave, which can disrupt the root system of young trees. Gently tamp down any raised soil.
- Fertilization: While heavy fertilization is generally not recommended in the fall, a mild, slow-release fertilizer can help some species prepare for the winter. However, this should be done based on specific tree species requirements.
- Professional Health Checks: If you notice something strange with your trees, it’s always good to consult with an arborist. They’ll be able to tell you if the issue is benign, or needs to be addressed.
Expert Tip: Prune Strategically
Dead or weakened branches should be removed to prevent them from breaking under the weight of snow or ice. An added benefit of this is that it also directs energy to the healthier parts of the tree and this reduces the risk of pest infestations or disease. DIY pruning has it’s challenges, makes sure read our post about it before you embark on a new years tree pruning mission yourself.
When to Prune: Pruning can happen at different points during the season, and it can depend on your tree species. For one, it can be a good time to prune a tree in the height of the growing season (after the rising Spring sap). At this point in the growing season the tree is at its maximum growth point and will be able to tolerate pruning. The next best time to prune is late fall and early winter because trees are dormant (i.e. they don’t consume energy and will have stopped growing until the following springtime). You’d need to find out more information about the trees on your property to determine best season for pruning.
How to Prune: Use sharp tools, make clean cuts, and avoid tearing the bark. Remember, always prune with a purpose, like removing dead branches or shaping the tree.
Learn more about the different tree pruning techniques.
Final Thoughts
Looking at the bigger picture, we won’t really know the extent of the damage to our trees until next spring, as we often see delayed mortality associated with drought and extreme summer weather. Unfortunately some of our epic Western red cedars are going to disappear from the valley within the next 20 years, the drought is killing them off.
So the onus is on us to take care of our trees, especially with changing weather patterns. With proper care, attention, and love, your trees will not just survive but thrive as they head into a new spring. If you have any more questions or concerns as we head into winter, don’t hesitate to reach out and speak with a tree care professional. For all your tree services needs in Grants Pass, the Rogue Valley, and anywhere in Josephine County, contact Siskiyou Tree Experts today to schedule a Free onsite inspection.