Helping Trees Through the Chills of Winter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT SONIA ABNEY:
(217) 355-9411 Ext 27
Helping Trees Through The Chills Of Winter*
Champaign, IL - The tree-filled landscapes of winter can be mistakenly
thought to be asleep. Wintering trees are not sleeping; they are simply
still - counting the days until spring. Only then
will it be apparent whether the tree has saved enough
resources to respond to the new season of growth.
Winter is a difficult time for trees which must stand alone against all circumstances that the season can generate. Trees have some internal methods of protection. Most of the growing points in the tree are protected inside jackets called buds, and food reserves are carefully conserved for
the coming needs of spring. Also Water continues to move through the tree
until it freezes. However, these protective stages may breed other problems. For example, creatures needing a meal chew and nibble on the
resting buds and twigs.
What can you do to help your valuable trees? A few things can help a
tree be more efficient and effective in surviving the winter and
thriving in spring. These small winter investments can pay off in a
large way, yielding healthy and structurally sound trees.
The "Critical Six" things to do for your tree this winter
are:
- Add a thin layer of composted organic mulch to blanket the soil
surface. Mulch protects and conserves tree resources and recycles
valuable materials.
- Properly wrap new trees that have not developed a corky bark and
could easily be damaged. Mechanical injury from the environment,
including chewing and rubbing by animals, must be prevented.
- Remove or correct clearly visible structural faults and deadwood.
Try to make small pruning cuts that minimize the exposure of the
central heartwood core on branches.
- Perform limited greenwood pruning of declining and poorly placed
branches. Pruning should conserve as many living branches as
possible, with only a few selective cuts.
- Fertilize with elements needed in small quantities. Essential
elements added over a mulch layer will help provide a healthy soil
environment for root growth.
- Water where soils and trees are cool but not frozen, and where
there has been little precipitation. Winter droughts need treatment
with waters the same as summer droughts. However, it is easy to
overwater in winter, so be careful.
Invest in great trees by helping them over a difficult time. For
trees, wonderful springs come from well-tended winters. Seek
assistance from ISA Certified Arborists for the life of your trees!
*Information provided by Dr. Kim Coder, tree specialist, University of Georgia.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit organization supporting
tree care research around the world. Headquartered in Champaign, Ill., ISA is dedicated to the care and
preservation of shade and ornamental trees. For more information, contact a local ISA Certified Arborist
or visit
www.treesaregood.com.