It won’t be long before the snow and ice start to melt across the Ottawa Valley. And when this happens, your trees are ready to wake from a long, cold slumber after living through another Canadian winter of freezing rain, heavy snow loads, and road salt.
Once this time of year hits, your trees are more than ready for a little bit of post-winter care.
Spring is a critical time for tree maintenance. Getting ahead of the “bloom” ensures your trees are structurally sound and healthy before they put all their energy into growing new leaves.
Here are five essential spring maintenance tips for Ottawa homeowners to keep their properties safe and green.
1. The Post-Winter “Walk-Around”
Before the leaves hide the branches, take a slow walk around your property. You are looking for any damages that may have occurred during those -30°C nights or heavy ice storms.
- Check for Frost Cracks: Look for vertical splits in the bark, usually on the south or west side of the trunk. These happen when the sun warms the bark during the day and it freezes rapidly at night.
- Identify “Hangers”: Look for broken branches still caught in the upper canopy. These can fall without warning during a spring windstorm and cause serious damage or injuries for anyone or anything unlucky enough to be underneath.
- Spot the “Deadwood”: If a branch looks brittle or has no budding while the rest of the tree is waking up, it likely didn’t survive the winter. If it’s in an easy-to-reach location then you can take this on yourself with a chainsaw — otherwise it could be an item to call the local tree experts to come in for removal.
2. Flush Out the Salt
Ottawa uses a lot of road salt to help cars stay on the slippery roads, and your trees, especially those near the curb, hate it. Salt pulls moisture away from roots, creating drought-like conditions even when the ground is wet.
- The Solution: As soon as the ground thaws, give the soil around your roadside trees a deep, thorough soaking. This “leaching” process flushes the salt down below the root zone and gives your trees a fresh start for the spring season.
Pro Tip: If you have evergreens that look brown on the side facing the road (winter burn), spray the needles down with fresh water to remove any lingering salt spray.
3. Strategic Pruning (The “Dormancy” Window)
Late winter to early spring (roughly March to early April) is the goldilocks zone for pruning most Ottawa species like Oak, Ash, and Linden.
Why now? Since there are no leaves, we can see the tree’s skeleton perfectly. We can remove diseased or crossing branches without the tree losing leaves.
- The “Bleeders”: If you have Maples or Birches, they might “bleed” sap if pruned right now. While it looks dramatic, it’s generally harmless to the tree’s health, though some homeowners prefer to wait until mid-summer to avoid the mess.
4. Mulch Like a Pro
A fresh layer of mulch is like a spa treatment for your tree’s roots. It regulates temperature and keeps moisture in during the increasingly dry Ottawa springs.
But remember to mulch a Donut, not a Volcano!
Mulch 2–4 inches deep in a wide circle around the base. Never pile mulch against the trunk, which creates a “mulch volcano” that traps moisture against the bark, leading to rot and pest infestations. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the bark so the tree can breathe.
5. Feed the Soil, Not Just the Tree
Ottawa is famous for its heavy clay soil. While clay is nutrient-rich, it can become compacted and “smother” roots.
- Slow-Release Fertilizer: Spring is the time to apply a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer. This gives the tree a steady diet of nutrients to support the massive energy spike required to grow new foliage.
A Note on Safety: If you see a split trunk, a branch leaning on a power line, or a tree that has developed a new lean since the snow melted, don’t try to take on this work yourself! Large-scale spring maintenance requires professional equipment and insurance. There can be many dangers involved in removing large trees and branches, and an expert eye can help avoid risks to 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!
