Winter Tree Care Tips
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Compiled by Zack Garcia
Plant Dormant Trees: January is the perfect month to plant dormant trees. Plants that go dormant in winter (stop growing and lose leaves) include most deciduous trees such as maples, poplars, ashes, birches, and oaks. Your local nursery should have a variety of these, plus bare root rose, vine, and fruit trees, including apricot, plum, apple, pear, and peach. Add organic compost planting mix to existing soil when planting so the soil is the right consistency to receive nutrients and water. Stay away from planting citrus and avocado trees if frost is a concern.
Prune Dormant Trees: Prune dead, diseased limbs, or overgrowth. Doing so strengthens the remaining branches and encourages new, stronger growth in the spring. Remove any new growth at the tree’s base or unwieldy stems from branches. Avoid pruning large, well-established branches. This can cause stress on the tree and stunt growth. Now is your opportunity to shape the tree so it looks its finest in spring. Winter is also a good time to trim evergreens. Do not prune azaleas, winter camellias, winter daphne, or trees that are “bleeders” such as birch trees or japanese maples.
Use Mulch as a Defense Against Weeds: Only a small amount of rain can mean an onslaught of new weed growth. Place a three- to four-inch layer of mulch in garden beds and other landscaped areas. The mulch will prevent sunlight from penetrating the soil and keep weed seeds from sprouting. By adding mulch now and eliminating new weed growth, you’ll be saved from the hassle of pulling weeds in spring. Mulch also helps to regulate soil temperature so frost damage is less of a worry.
Recycle Your Cut Christmas Tree: Many cities offer curbside Christmas tree collection during the two weeks following Christmas. Remove all ornaments, lights, and tinsel; saw the tree in half if taller than six feet. Every year, Christmas trees are recycled into mulch that is then used in agriculture and in home and business landscaping.
In the event of snow, be sure to shake or brush off the white stuff from the branches of your evergreens and shrubs. The light fluffy snow poses no real threat, but if it should become wet and frozen, the weight dramatically increases. Branches are more brittle when the plants are dormant, and the weight of the snow may snap them off.
For more information, contact Tellico Landscape & Garden Center at (865) 229-2138.
Tellico Landscape & Garden Center
7300 Highway 411 S.
Greenback, TN 37742
(865) 229-2138
