Straining your eyes? You can listen to this automated AI version of the article here:
As we move into winter, activity in the garden begins to slow. This Blog will detail some of the measures you can take to ensure good winter tree care in your garden during the colder months of June – August.
Winter in the garden means that trees are shedding their leaves and drawing their energy back into their roots to be stored until it is needed in the spring. Although trees are in a state of dormancy at this time, there are still tasks that you can perform to give them a helping hand.
Where can you start in your winter garden?
The first step towards good winter tree care is to check that your trees are well mulched.
We have several blogs discussing the benefits of mulching trees, the main benefits being; weed suppression, moisture control, and slow release fertilizing. A 50mm layer of well-rotted wood chip spread out to the drip line of the canopy will do a lot to help your trees.
It’s winter and trees need a little additional love and attention (and water)
Ensuring your trees have adequate water is important for healthy function. Winter tree care means looking out for signs that your trees need extra support as the frost, hardened ground and darker days approach.
Too little or too much water can both result in stressed trees. 2020 has been a drought and rain has been late in coming. We advise that you check the soil around your trees to see if water is required this winter.
Later in the season, you could also check for water logging in the area around your trees as this can lead to root rot or shallow roots. If water logging is occurring in your winter garden, you may need to consider drainage or relocating the trees if they are still young enough to do so.
Brr, it’s cold in the garden – how to protect trees from the cold
Some exotic trees may require protection from frosts or cold weather. In Auckland this is not too much of an issue but is not unknown either.
Insulating frost cloth can be wrapped around any susceptible species to protect them from cold snaps during the winter season.
Winter is also a good time to plant more trees, which many people are often not aware of. Winter time in the garden can be a great time to sow seeds for certain trees and to plant ahead of spring.
We have other blogs that discuss planting in more detail, however, the main principles are assess your site, decide your preferences, select suitable species, plant well, mulch, and provide good after care.
What after care do newly planted trees need in winter?
After care for newly planted trees can be done at this time. There are some specific winter tree care actions you can take to ensure that your trees thrive during the colder months.
Check to see if there is adequate mulch. Check the stability of the tree in the ground. Adjust tree ties and stakes as necessary. Check for deadwood, crossing branches, poor fork unions, epicormic growth, uneven growth and prune as required.
For more information about mulching see the following link https://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/resources/propermulching.pdf
Also, it is particularly important that young trees receive adequate amounts of water in their first few years.
By giving your trees a little help through winter they will spring back into life when the sun returns and the weather warms.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.
We have experience of providing regular maintenance programs on both large and small scales. Have a chat with us about how a maintenance program could be the best option for your tree stock.
You can also contact us to request a free tree safety survey to make sure that your trees are safe and healthy during the winter months.
Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn for our latest updates.