Winter Tree Care
Do trees go dormant in winter?
When a tree goes dormant, it goes through a period where all physical activity is temporarily stopped (including growth and development). Trees go dormant in expectation of extreme temperatures or drought. This results in many trees entering dormancy from roughly late autumn to early spring.
Do they need water?
Trees need water in the wintertime just as much as they do in the summertime. However, one must be careful only to water trees when the ground is NOT frozen; otherwise the water may freeze and cause suffocation to your plants.
Can you prune trees in winter?
Commonly, the best time to prune is often during late winter (before spring growth begins). This is because during the winter structural problems are more visible, which makes it easier to make pruning decisions without tons of leaves concealing the branch structure. But not only is it appropriate for many trees to be pruned in the winter, it is also practical! Pruning in the winter has been shown to reduce ice and snow damage not only to the trees, but also to the structures surrounding them.
Does mulch really help?
Proper mulching is quite beneficial to trees, as it increases the available nutrients, improves soil structure, suppresses grass and weeds, and frankly just makes the landscape more attractive!
What can I do about snow and ice?
In the snow, one can always reduce the weight of the elements by gently brushing loose snow off of the tree’s limbs. Also, as mentioned above, proper pruning before the storm strikes can significantly decrease the amount of damaged to a tree and it’s surroundings.
Is de-icing salt harmful to my trees and shrubs?
Yes, salt is very harmful to trees (or any plant for that matter), for it restricts the root system from absorbing water, creating a drought-like situation for the tree or plant (despite all of the snow and ice surrounding it). This can eventually lead to the death of the tree (or plant). A more eco-friendly alternative would be to use sand when the ice comes, and save your trees and plants in the meantime!
