Winterize Your Trees, It May Be Your Last Chance
It's getting close to last call on preparing your trees for another CNY winter. While we're enjoying mild temps and some sunshine the next couple of days, The Master Gardeners at Cornell Cooperative Extension have 4 things you should do.
Winter is difficult for trees, They need to be protected to be sure they stay healthy and free from disease or insect problems. A little time now can pay off come spring.
Pruning
Prune dead, diseased or overlapping branches. This will help to strengthen the tree as well as to help it handle winter storm damage. Use sharp, clean pruners. Be careful pruning flowering trees or shrubs. You don't want to prune growth that will produce spring blooms.
Mulch.
Spreading a thin layer of mulch, especially an organic mulch such as compost, will help with winter fluctuations of temperature and moisture. Compost will also add beneficial organic matter to help strengthen your trees. Always mulch wide and not deep; avoid mulch volcanoes which can cause too much moisture to stay close to the tree trunk resulting in rot issues.
Water.
Winter temperatures, sunlight, and wind can cause transpiration, a loss of moisture. This lack of moisture will desiccate a tree very quickly. Perhaps you have seen the results in the spring, often referred to as "winter burn". Minimize this problem now by providing your trees with adequate moisture before the soil freezes.
Dormant Sprays.
Consider a dormant spray product such as a horticultural oil. Dormant oil sprays control overwintering insects and their eggs as well as overwintering fungal spores. Before you spray, be sure to read the product label and follow directions carefully.
Get more information on winterizing trees, shrubs and other plants, or for tips on proper pruning, visit Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County’s website at www.cceoneida.com and click on the Home and Garden section to see our fact sheets.
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