Getting Trees Ready for the Winter

Winter is rapidly approaching, as evidenced by our first snowfall in Keizer, OR. When you think of winter, the first things that come to mind are boilers/furnaces, windows and doors, insulation, thermostats, and gutters to inspect or prepare. After you've finished prepping and examining everything, you can relax and enjoy the warmth of the fire. However, you have not inspected or prepared your winter trees with the help of tree experts in Keizer, OR, which are an important part of your property.

Take these preventative measures to examine and prepare your winter trees before Jack Frost bites them:

Trunk Wrapping
Because of the dramatic winter temperature swings, young thin-barked trees like honey locust, maple, and linden are susceptible to sunscald and frost cracks. Wrap the trunks of younger trees with commercial tree wrap up to the first branches to prevent bark damage. Keep the wrap on until the beginning of April.

To reduce soil evaporation, enhance water absorption, and insulate against temperature extremes, apply 2 to 4 inches of wood chips, bark, or other organic mulch at the base of the winter tree, but not against it. During the winters, we are exposed to a wide range of temperature extremes.

If you're looking for a way to get wood chips for your property, some community recycling programmes offer them for free.

Leaves Can Be Recycled
Instead of throwing away autumn leaves, spread them as mulch around the base of each tree or blend them into the lawn with a mulching mower to save the nutrients they produce.

Give Them Something to Drink
Water trees in the area spanning from the trunk to the length of the longest branches before storing your garden hose for the winter. Water at a rate of 10 gallons per inch of tree diameter with a sprinkler or soaker hose. Visit our mistakes you make while watering trees blog for additional information on watering techniques.

Younger trees should be prioritised.
Focus on younger trees with a less extensive root system while preparing your trees for winter, as these trees require the greatest attention.

Pruning most tree species is best done in the winter with the help of tree pruning services in Keizer, OR. Pruning is done for a variety of reasons, including removing dead branches, improving tree form, and protecting your home from falling limbs.

Have the Winter Blues Got You Down?
Give one of our professional arborists a call at 503-404-3309 if winter has already got you down about examining and inspecting your trees; and even if it hasn't, but you want to make sure your winter trees are receiving nothing but the best care, give us a call. Keizer Tree Service offers consultations to assess your property and advise you on how to secure your tree's survival throughout the winter.