Time to Trim the Tree

Winter is here and before thoughts of the holidays fill your head, remember your trees need some help this fall and winter. It is easy to forget that your trees need help to prepare for winter just like your lawn does. Here are some tips and tricks to help your trees.

Tips and Tricks

Tree pruning can be an intimidating task if you are not a trained professional. There are three reasons you should consider pruning your tree. 

Tree Pruning

• First, for the health of the tree. If the tree has diseased limbs and branches it is best to prune them out to keep the tree healthy.

• Second, for hazards caused by the tree. This could be things like the tree growing into power lines or unstable branches hanging over a house.

• Third, for the form of the tree. This is the process of removing specific branch to shape the tree and encourage it to grow in certain directions. 

Once you have decided that your tree needs to be pruned, make sure it is the correct pruning time for your tree. The best pruning time is late winter early spring. You should prune your tree once it is completely dormant. Remember that no more then 25-30% of the canopy should be removed per season, with the exception of dead material. Major pruning jobs may take a season or two to complete. Be aware that certain types of tree come out of dormancy after being pruned. Fall is not always the best time to prune your tree because it can delay dormancy. You should only consider pruning trees in the fall if the tree has a disease or a hazard. 

Make sure you have the right supplies for pruning your tree. Pruning shears and a pruning saw are the best tools for the job. Other things like anvil pruners are also acceptable. Bow saws tend to make pruning harder because the handle gets in the way. Never use a chain saw to prune your tree. 

Now that you know your tree needs to be pruned and you have all the supplies, you need to decide the best way to prune your tree. Remember that you do not want to leave any stumps or cut too deeply into the trunk or branch that the limb is connected to. For more information on how to prune you tree correctly follow this link. For help with pruning fruit tree, follow this link. Or contact a trained professional. 

Tree Fertilizing

Tree fertilizing is also an important thing to do for your trees. Forests are full of natural nutrients that the trees get from fall leaves, sticks, and other environmental factors. Trees throughout your yard typically do not have access to those kinds of things due to raking up leaves and things like that. When applying fertilizer for your tree make sure it is a slow release fertilizer. The fall fertilizer applied to your tree will help root growth and give it the nutrients it needs to recover from the summer months. For help with tree fertilizing click here.

Be Aware Of

1. Fall and winter is a great time to start thinking about fixing up your lawn mower. This time of year, when you are not using your mower, gives you time to sharpen your mower blade, balance your mower blade, change the oil, and any other repairs that have been put off. Maintaining your lawn mower will prevent the blades of grass from taring next season and ensure that everything is mowed to the proper height. Check out this link for help maintaining your lawn mower.  

Looking for a healthy, green, and weed free lawn?

Contact us today at: 435-753-5296 or mylawn@lawndoctorutah.com

www.lawndoctor.com/cachevalley-ut/

Find us on Facebook !