Thankfully, our winters in the Conejo Valley are the envy of America. But it’s still a good idea to take some time during the autumn months to prepare your trees for winter so that they can enter spring healthy and vibrant.
Professional arborists like Jim Skiera, Executive Director of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), agree with this advice. He says, “While your trees seem to be in a state of hibernation in the winter, exposure to the tough conditions can cause them major stress. Minimize stress by helping your trees through the cold months, a little at a time. If you take care of your trees in the winter, you’ll be rewarded in the spring.”
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Here are some tips from the ISA for care of your trees entering winter.
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Rely on mulch. It will help offset temperature extremes.
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Give your trees a drink. If our draught continues into the winter, make sure your trees get a regular watering.
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Prevent mechanical injuries. These include branch breakage or splitting, sometimes caused by animals. Especially with young trees, consider wrapping their base with a plastic guard.
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Prune your trees. Fall is a great time to prune. With fewer leaves on the tree, it’s easier to prune efficiently. It also reduces stress on the tree over the winter and makes them healthier entering spring. One caution, though: not all trees are the same — timing and pruning methods differ. Give me a call if you want to check on your particular tree.
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Plant now. Autumn is a great time to plant a new tree. Root growth is stimulated in the fall and winter, and that leads to improved top growth in the spring. Note, though, that November is a little early for bare-root plants.