Preparing Your Trees For Winter This Fall

Winter is just around the corner. While you and your family may be ready for the frigid temperatures and whirling snowstorms, it’s safe to say your trees are probably not. Before this year’s snowmageddon, head outside and complete this checklist to make sure your trees are well-equipped to brave the upcoming winter months.

Home and trees during the fall season
  1. Cleanup. The first thing you’ll want to do to prepare your trees for winter is some general clean up duties. Inspect your yard for fallen branches and remove them (or hire someone to remove them if they’re too large). Next, look for tree branches that hang over your home or areas where people frequent. Snow will accumulate on these limbs during the winter causing them to break and fall, which can mean bad news for your roof, cars, etc. If the branch is of considerable size or you’re worried about it, it’s best to remove it before it causes larger issues. Lastly, prune your trees to remove dead or dying branches. This reduces the risk of disease and will give your trees the strength they need to survive the winter.
  2. Fertilize. Trees lose much of their vital nutrients in the summer due to the hot, drying conditions. It’s important to apply a slow-release fertilizer to your trees during the fall in order to replenish those lost nutrients and provide them with enough food to survive the winter. The fertilizer will also help trees fight insects, disease, and damaging weather.
  3. Water heavily. Similar to fertilizing, fall is the time to provide your trees with a hefty amount of hydration. Give your trees extra water during the fall because winters can actually be as drying as summers.
  4. Mulch. Applying mulch around your trees is a good way for them to retain moisture during the winter. Mulch acts as both a sponge that holds water as well as a barrier to the outside elements. Be mindful to keep at least six inches of space between tree bark and where you lay the mulch to prevent fungus from growing on the trunk itself.
  5. Plant new trees. It may seem counterproductive to plant new trees in the autumn months, but it’s actually one of the most successful times to do it. During the fall, there’s no extreme heat and less drought, which gives newly planted trees the ability to form a strong root system before winter dormancy.
  6. Wrap. After the first freeze of the year (which usually occurs during late October or early November), wrap your trees using commercial tree wrap. The wrap acts as a barrier around your trees to prevent winter burn (a condition involving extreme drying) and other damaging winter effects. To learn more about how to wrap your trees, click here.

Many of us aren’t big fans of the winter season, but it doesn’t have to be because of the damage it does to our trees. Follow these tips to protect your trees and landscaping this winter and contact Dudley’s Dew Right for all your professional tree service needs!

Spring's Right Around the Corner. Get Your Landscape Ready!

Prepare Your Landscape

Birds are chirping. Days are getting longer, the nights shorter. What does that mean? Spring is ALMOST HERE. And there’s a lot to do before your landscaping is ready for the warmer weather. These tips from Freshome can help simplify what you need to do.

1) Be familiar with your climate. Know your geographic location on Earth, as well as your yard. You need to choose plants that will be fitting for the amount of sun and shade the different parts of your lawn will receive during the day.

2) Research before you start. Start by planning out your strategy for landscaping in advance. You need to decide if you want to break it into phases, or if you want to hire a professional service, like us here at Dudley Dew Right’s, to help you plan. If you’re curious about what plants or flowers to use, ask your local nursery for advice.

3) Know your local pests. Sure, you have to think of a plan for watering and sunlight in your landscape. But, don’t forget your local pests, like wildlife, insects and stray animals which can cause a lot of trouble in your landscaping. Make sure to plan if you need fencing, wire mesh or if you need to plant natural repellents to deter and ward off local pests.

4) Know your calendar and plant at the right time. Planting new fruit trees and flowering shrubs is always exciting, but you must remember plants will thrive and survive better if you plant them at the suggested time of year. Check gardening websites and ask your local nursery what times are best for planting the plants of your choice.

5) Don’t forget about growth. Make sure to take into consideration how large your plants will grow in weeks, months, etc. You’ll want to double check the height and growth requirements on the pots of your plants before you actually plant them. Or, just give us a call and let us help you!

6) Be inspired. People draw their inspiration from all over: neighbors’ yards, travelling to another part of the neighborhood or other parts of town. Make sure to check out local gardens and home and garden publications for your own landscape improvement ideas and motivation.

7) Make a map. When you get an idea of the plants you’d like to include in your landscape, map it out! Make sure to estimate enough room for walking paths, as well as plant growth and future maintenance. You also want to make sure tall plants won’t obstruct the view lines from inside your home.

8) Don’t forget maintenance. Landscaping requires regular upkeep and care. Everything from pulling weeds to watering and pruning needs to be planned out, as well as an occasional replacement of dead plants. Make sure you choose plants that will fit your maintenance schedule.

9) Low and high maintenance plants are key. Make sure you pick plants that suit your home style. According to freshome.com, if your home has a rustic or desert tone, ornamental grasses that grow wild may be more suitable for your landscaping. In your home is more tropical, flowering plants and shrubs might be more suitable. Give us a call today to talk about plants for your area!

10) Contrast with the outside of your home. Landscaping should enhance the exterior of our home, so make sure to choose plants that compliment or contrast colors in your home. You also want to make sure the plants complement the architecture of your home as well. Plan landscaping to be in harmony with your home.

Give Dudley Dew Right a call now to set up a time to figure out your landscaping for spring! The time to get started will be here before you know it.