Colder weather means your home and landscaping require special preparation. Wind, snow and ice can all be a hazard to your lawn and plants, so knowing how to get your shrubs and other features ready for winter is a key part of being a homeowner.

Trees in particular require special attention—they can present a risk to your home if they’re not properly cared for, so taking some basic steps during the fall will help guarantee that they stay strong throughout the winter. It’s usually preferable to work with one of the best Baton Rouge tree services to make sure the job is done right, but there are also some DIY steps you can take.

Wrap up the trunks

Wrapping up the trunks might seem silly—after all, aren’t trees made to be outside? This is obviously true to some extent, but some types of trees can still benefit from some extra protection. Thin-barked trees, in particular, can be susceptible to damage as a result of temperature fluctuations, and wrapping up the trunks can help prevent this. Cover them up with commercial tree wrap and leave it on until early April to make sure the trunks stay healthy.

Mulch and water

The bothersome leaves of autumn can actually really help you out here, because you’ll want to apply a layer of two to four inches of organic material near the base (but not actually right up against the trunk) of every tree in your yard. You can do this with bark mulch, or you can simply recycle leaves by packing them down. This mulch serves several crucial purposes—it helps to improve water absorption, it insulates trunks and roots against extreme temperatures and it helps reduce the amount of water that can evaporate out of the soil.

Watering trees before pausing your various landscape maintenance tasks for the winter is also an important job favored by the best Baton Rouge tree services. We typically recommend that you give them a good long drink every fall before you put the hose away for the season—the rule of thumb is 10 gallons of water per inch of tree diameter.

Prune in the winter

It might be tempting to get wild and unruly branches under control in the fall, but it’s actually best to do this in the later winter months. Trees do best with pruning when they’re totally dormant, which doesn’t occur until the cold temperatures have really taken hold. Pruning is a useful exercise because you’re snipping off branches that could present a hazard, but there’s also a visual component: it’s an easy way to shape the tree into the form you desire.

The best Baton Rouge tree services know how to get all of your plants and other landscaping features in top shape, no matter the coming weather. Our team at Allan’s Tree Service will get the job done right the first time around. Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment or learn more about our services!

Categorised in: Tree Care

This post was written by Allan's