Winter is upon us, but that’s no excuse to neglect your trees! Winter is a great time for tree care and maintenance. It’s the right time to make sure your tree is in optimal health leading into the warmer months. Here’s a guide on how you can keep your trees in tip-top condition this winter.
Get Your Trees Pruned
Winter is an ideal time to have your trees pruned. Depending on the type of tree, some species go into a period of dormancy over the cooler months, making it an ideal time to give your trees a good prune. Removing any dead, damaged or diseased limbs will better protect your tree from pests and disease. It will also improve your tree’s structure and promote growth. However, it’s critical that proper pruning techniques are carried out to protect the health of the tree. Improper techniques will put your tree at risk of sickness, pest invasion and poor structural integrity.
If you’re not experienced, you don’t have the right tools and you’re basically just hacking away and doing what you think is best – stop! You’re likely to adversely impact the tree rather than do it any good. Hire professional Arborists Brisbane locals trust to do it right the first time, and avoid any issues down the track.
Protect Susceptible Trees And Plants From Harsh Conditions
If you have any tree species that are particularly susceptible to cold conditions or harsh winds, you may need to provide them with some form of protection over winter. Cover with a tarp or sheet right to the ground to trap warmth in the soil and protect from strong winds.
Use Mulch
Mulch is a fantastic way to boost the health of your trees and plants over winter. Mulch helps retain moisture and warmth in the soil, regulates temperature and adds a protective layer to help deter pests. Easy, quick and relatively cheap, mulch is a gardener’s best friend. But, be sure to apply correctly! Don’t overdo it and pile mulch up high directly around the base of the tree trunk – this will suffocate the tree and can lead to root rot. Apply a 10 – 15cm layer of mulch roughly 20 centimetres from the base of the trunk. Use organic mulch where possible, trees prefer it and it looks and smells great!
Keep Watering
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you don’t need to water your trees and plants. Winter in Brisbane is typically the dry season, and long periods without sufficient water can damage root systems and even kill your trees. They may look absolutely fine however, a tree that hasn’t had sufficient water throughout winter can be significantly weakened by the time the summer “wet” season comes around. Trees in a weakened state are much more susceptible to pathogens and insect attack. Stick to a regular watering schedule to help regulate soil temperature and maintain optimum tree health. Water slowly and all the way out to the ‘root spread’ of the tree which is normally as wide as the tree is high.
Aussie Tree Solutions are the team of Arborists Brisbane locals trust to assist with their tree care and maintenance needs. From tree lopping and pruning, mulching, consulting and advice to tree removals and everything in between – Aussie Tree Solutions are experts in the field, who have been taking care of Brisbane locals for over 40 years. Call our friendly team on (07) 3351 1722 for a free, no-obligation quote today.