Winter is here in many parts of the U.S.. If you have not yet prepared your yard and trees for the long winter months, there is still time to get it done before we see the temperatures drop and the snow piles up. With a bit of hard work and care, your trees and yard will be ready to withstand the
Pruning trees is actually a winter chore because the trees handle it better when they are dormant from the cold weather. Pruning near the ends of branches to shape the tree is alright but try not to cut too close to the trunk. It is good to remove small branches that are growing out of the base of the tree instead of up near the other branches.
Preparing your Trees
Pruning
Pruning trees is actually a winter chore because the trees handle it better when they are dormant from the cold weather. Pruning near the ends of branches to shape the tree is alright but try not to cut too close to the trunk. It is good to remove small branches that are growing out of the base of the tree instead of up near the other branches.
Tree Branch Removal
Specifically look for diseased or dead branches that need to be removed. Remove branches that are at risk of falling on something like a house or car. Also remove branches that clearly may break off from heavy snow or storms. Don’t remove branches unnecessarily. Of all the yard preparation for winter, tree services are ones that may be left to the experts. Calling in professionals in your area like the certified tree specialist Des Moines, will make it safer and easier to get your trees looking their best and healthy for their revival in the spring.
Mulch
Unless they are young and fragile, trees often get neglected in the winter. Trees of any size need a pile of mulch or dry leaves around the base of the tree without touching the trunk. This protects the tree from weather extremes and improves water retention.
Tree Wrap
Wrapping young trees to protect against frostbite is critical. Older trees can benefit from tree wrap to protect against sun scald and extreme weather conditions. Commercial tree wraps are available or you can use a frost sheet as well. Wrap the tree up to its lowest branches. For well developed, large trees this is not as necessary.
Grass and Lawn Care
Keeping a nice, thick, green lawn takes time, effort and money. Every season there are various things that need to be done to keep a lawn healthy. For winter, the two main things to always get done are aeration and fertilization.
Aeration
Aerating your lawn before the first frost is important to the health of your grass. Loosening up the hard ground soil lets it breathe and also stimulates growth. Aerating in late fall when your grass is thick and strong will help it recover more quickly and produce more benefit, but doing it now before the ground is cold and hard will still help. Aeration requires a specific machine that can be rented. Otherwise you can call a yard professional to do the service for you.
Fertilization
Once you have aerated, make sure to fertilize. The roots will absorb the rich nutrients and store them over the winter months. This will make your lawn even more green and lush come spring. If you are unable to aerate, it is still beneficial to do a fertilizer treatment before the grass goes dormant. Follow the guidelines for watering so that the nourishment gets to the roots of the grass.
Calling professionals like GA Trugreen for tree issues and lawn care can be a low cost choice that may be more appealing than doing the work yourself. Get some estimates and then decide if you want to do the work yourself. Often people hire experts for the tree trimming and lawn aeration but can easily do the rest on their own. It’s all a matter of what you are comfortable doing and how much time you have. Nonetheless, it is getting time to get your trees and yard ready for winter.
