People tend to think that managing the plants in their yard is something that should only be done during the warmer months of the year. This couldn’t be further from the truth, especially for your trees. Trees are dormant during the winter, and this is one of the best times to give them attention. Doing so can protect your trees and allow them to live a much longer life.

Mulching

One thing you can take care of during the winter is mulching. Perform this task before or in between snowfalls. Add two to four inches of mulch around the base of your trees. Doing so will help insulate and protect the roots during the winter. It will also do the job of helping the tree to better retain moisture underground.

Pruning

During the winter, while your trees are in a dormant phase, is also one of the best times to prune branches and limbs. This task should only be performed by an arborist because they have the necessary training and experience to ensure they won’t harm the trees.

You may believe you can prune your trees if you watch a high-quality DIY video that walks you through the task. However, this is no substitution for all the formal training and hands-on experience an arborist will receive.

Professionals will look for limbs that are good candidates for pruning. This includes branches and limbs that are dead or damaged. It also includes branches or limbs that may cause problems in the future, such as those that have grown too close to your home.

Watering

Many people may assume that the winter is not the time to water their plants. However, in regard to many tree species, especially evergreens, this is not true. While you shouldn’t water while the ground is frozen, you can certainly do so during the intermittent thaws that happen during the winter months.

Wrapping

Certain species of young trees should be wrapped during the harshest winter months to protect them against the elements of winter. This includes species such as crabapple, linden, and maple. Wrapping them during the winter can prevent issues such as developing cracks and “sunscald.” Sunscald is a tree injury that occurs when bark is warmed during the day and then frozen at night. Younger trees of these species are especially prone to this kind of injury. Wrapping their bark can help protect these young trees and allow them to grow to the point they will be more resistant to damage.

Don’t wait for something to go wrong to take action. If you live in or near Windsor, CA, and need tree healthcare services, consider hiring our company, Image Tree Service, for the job.