Caring for your Trees this Fall

Fall is here and has finally brought us cooler weather in Central Ohio.  You may have noticed your trees exhibiting environmental stress responses this summer due to the high heat, humidity and drought conditions.  While in most cases, trees will recover and leaf out beautifully next spring, Fall is a perfect time to give the trees some TLC and protection over the cold winter.  Fall fertilization is great for trees that have struggled through the summer months.  Removing dead limbs will help refocus the tree’s energy to health and recovery while also preventing failure during winter storms which could result in an expensive and inconvenient emergency!

You may be tempted to rake up all your fallen leaves, but a thin layer on the grass will return valuable nutrients to the soil as they break down.  Save yourself the aching back and arms and leave the grass lightly covered in beautiful reds, oranges and yellows!  If there is heavy leaf fall, mowing is an easy way to mulch the leaves, causing them to break down faster. Experts say that there are lots of reasons to not rake leaves as they provide nutrients to the soil as well as to birds and other native creatures including cocoon moths and bumblebee queens. Fallen leaves also provide cover for pollinators and will help your garden’s ecosystem.

Just because the fall weather is cooler doesn’t mean your trees won’t benefit from watering, especially those getting direct sunlight.  A dribble from the hose in a few spots around the base for 15 minutes per spot is enough to keep the tree hydrated.  If you see water pooling around the trunk, it may not need as much.  Overwatering can be just as detrimental as no water at all so keep an eye on it!  Applying mulch around your trees is helpful in insulating the roots but do not pile it too high up the trunk.  This will avoid the dreaded “mulch volcano,” which can hinder water and oxygen absorption.

Watch for our report on preparing your trees for winter, which will be posted in a few weeks.

If you are concerned about trees on your property, we are happy to evaluate them! Call or text Charter Oaks at 614-848-6466 today for more information.