Healthy trees are generally low maintenance moving through late summer and into fall. A little attention in August and September, however, is a great way to keep them healthy and provides opportunity to spot potential problems early.
In urban and suburban settings, this is especially important to ensure trees are getting enough water and nutrients to maintain the strength they need to resist disease or insect infestation and get through a cold winter.
Tree care involves pruning, watering, and fertilizing as needed. Take care to understand when and how to perform these tasks, however, and talk to a professional for guidance.
Your late summer To Do list
- Water young trees (less than two years old) and trees that appear stressed due to a hot summer (yellowing or curling leaves). You can generally provide a deep watering for trees at the same time you water your lawn and ensure water gets to the whole root system. Consult a professional for suggestions on how much to water your trees.
- Check the mulch around your trees. Adding where it has gotten thin can help hold moisture in the root system and lessen evaporation after watering but be sure not mound it too close to the trunk. A fresh layer of mulch later in the fall will protect the root system during the winter.
- Prune dead branches from trees but wait until winter when your trees are dormant to do any extensive pruning. If your tree is a late flowering tree, prune the spent blossoms. Leave shaping and pruning of large trees to the professionals.
- Inspect trees carefully for signs of disease or insects and contact a professional if you believe your tree may be diseased or stressed.
- Consult your arborist now about an appropriate fall fertilizer, but DO NOT fertilize in late summer. Fertilizer can encourage new growth that will be too tender to make it through a cold winter.
- Arrange for removal now of dead or dying trees. Your tree professional can advise you if a sick or damaged tree may be saved.
If you have questions about care for or the condition of your trees, contact Linger’s Lumberjacks. The professionals at Linger’s are available to inspect your trees and safely remove those that cannot be saved. For more information about Linger’s services, click here.