Your trees have to deal with some very harsh winter conditions on a yearly basis in Ottawa, from the hot summer months to wind, snow, ice and sleet all winter long.
In the midst of all this, you may be wondering what’s the best way to keep your tree happy and healthy?
Here are some important care tips that can help ensure your trees continue to thrive.
Make sure to water properly
Especially for newer trees that don’t have a fully established root system you’ll want to make sure to water through the autumn months. This gives the root system the opportunity to grow and flourish before the winter hits, giving it strength and stability against wind and rough conditions.
If you see that your evergreens are showing signs of brown during the winter, you can also consider watering even during the winter.
Add a mulch bed
Mulch can act like a layer of insulation to help manage soil temperatures and keep your trees warm and protect the root system. To properly mulch a tree, you’ll want to spread a 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree with a radius of at least 2 feet from the trunk. The mulch shouldn’t be touching the trunk of the tree.
Wrap up your tree
While it may be too early for the Christmas season, wrapping your tree does help offer some protection. For young trees with thin bark, a wrap protects it both from the harsh conditions and also from the constantly changing conditions of extreme sunlight followed by extreme cold.
Do some research on the specific type of tree or ask your local arborist in order to determine the best material and method to use for wrapping.
Pruning and removing dead branches
Remember to prune away any branches and other dead material in the late autumn months. These dying parts of the tree can steal energy away from parts of the tree that are doing well, making the entire tree system weaker.
This also limits the risk to your property that can come from falling tree debris during heavy winter storms.
Invest the time and your trees will thank you!
Your trees add to the beauty of your property and provide shade, along with many other valuable benefits. Setting aside the time to properly protect your trees will give them the opportunity to stay healthy and safe during winter, and then thrive once spring arrives again.
If in doubt, simply call your local tree company for advice to get specific recommendations on how to deal with the trees on your property!
Got any more questions?
If so, ask us here directly at VS Tree, Ottawa’s tree services company any questions you may have. Or if you simply want to get started with a project, reach out to us today!
