Winter Tree Care Checklist for Devon Homeowners
Winter is officially here in Devon, and with it comes freezing temperatures, cold winds, and frost. While this can be a fun time of year, full of festivities and celebrations, it is also a difficult one to manage if you own trees. The extreme weather conditions that come with the winter season can make trees unstable and potentially dangerous without the proper care.
As a leading arboricultural company, Kneebone Trees understands the importance of tree care throughout the year. We provide professional services to homeowners and commercial spaces across Devon, protecting our trees and landscape from all conditions.
Using our skills and experience as tree surgeons, we are going to help you have a safe, successful winter. In this guide, we are sharing the most important winter tree care tasks to perform now and how you can make your landscape thrive throughout the winter.
The Importance Of Winter Tree Care: Why Winter Is The Ideal Time For Your Trees
Many trees enter their dormancy during the winter, which means they no longer grow or produce foliage. Once the leaves have fallen in the autumn, many trees simply stop growing to conserve energy during the cold winter months.
While this may make it seem as though your tree care work is finished, now is the ideal time to get your trees secured and prepared for the seasons ahead. As they are not actively growing, winter tree care tasks such as pruning and shaping are easy to complete at this time.
For most trees, major pruning is safer and easier to do during the winter. You can improve the tree’s structure and ensure its stability before any new growth begins. This is also vital to do before the weather gets worse, as it can avoid storm damage and collapse. The dormancy of winter also makes it easier to manage and prevent diseases, including fungi and pests, that may hinder tree pruning at any other time.
While you may not be spending much time outdoors this season, your trees still are and therefore need your support. Winter tree care is not just about protecting your trees this season, but ensuring their strength and beauty for the new year.
Winter Tree Care Checklist: Top Tasks To Begin Now
Now that you understand the importance of winter tree care, it is time to begin giving your landscape the support it needs. It is best to act early in the season to avoid the worst of the weather and ensure your landscape is secure before any storms or frost arrive.
As the season progresses, you can continue with your winter tree care to prolong the health, safety and visual appeal of your space. Some of the most important tasks to do at this time include:
1) Inspect Trees For Weak Or Damaged Branches
Regular tree surveys or inspections should be done throughout the year, but are a vital part of your winter tree care routine due to the risks the weather poses. With the harsh winds and storms of winter, trees with weak or damaged branches can become dangerous.
These branches are more likely to become loose and collapse during harsh weather conditions, which is a particular concern for trees around properties, public spaces, or shared gardens. To learn more about neighbouring trees and your rights, see our post Can My Neighbour Cut My Tree Without Asking? Your Rights and How to Resolve Tree Disputes.
This is why, before the worst of the weather sets in, make sure you assess your trees. During this inspection, look for cracked, dead, or rubbing branches. These will need to be pruned, trimmed or removed completely.
For extremely damaged branches or large limbs, consult professionals like our team. We can offer tree pruning as well as pollarding.
This is not a one-time job, but an ongoing task in winter tree care, as the weather can result in more damage and issues. With ongoing inspections and tree surveys, you can actively prevent damage or injury.
2) Tree Pruning When Dormant
As we have mentioned, pruning during a tree’s dormancy can be extremely beneficial. This is why a key part of winter tree care is pruning and shaping, as it may be easier for you to do. In this season, focus on structural pruning, removing crossing branches, and shaping young trees. This is an ideal time to get your tree in good shape, as well as ensure its structural integrity before the growing seasons begin.
To ensure you are pruning your trees safely and effectively, see our post A Homeowner’s Guide to Safe Tree Pruning (Step-by-Step). Alternatively, reach out to professional tree surgeons like our team to do this work for you.
The work you do now can set the foundation for the future success of your trees and overall landscape, which is why pruning is a vital part of winter tree care.
3) Mulch Tree Roots & Frost Protection
Mulching can be a beneficial method in winter tree care, especially for young or newly established trees. Using organic materials, such as compost or wood chips, can offer a range of benefits to your plants and trees, especially during the winter.
Adding a layer of mulch over the roots of your trees can help maintain soil temperature and moisture. This is vital during the freezing conditions of winter, and makes it easier to protect your trees without additional watering and feeding.
When mulching your trees, make sure to keep a gap between the organic materials and the trunk of the tree. If there is contact, this can lead to rot and potential disease.
Periodically throughout the winter, make sure that mulch is a safe distance from the tree roots and is refreshed to provide essential nutrients.
For additional frost protection, especially around new seedlings and young trees, covers and fleece sheets can be used. Frost protection, such as horticultural fleece, tree wraps and shelters, can be used to shield your trees from the worst of the weather, keeping them secure from frost and wind.
This not only protects the roots, but the rest of the tree, so it can grow healthily come spring.
4) Check Soil And Watering Needs
Watering trees during the winter can be difficult because you need to avoid the coldest temperatures. Freezing water can lead to tree root damage and other structural issues with your trees. To determine whether your trees have root damage, see our post Signs Of Tree Root Damage & What To Do About It.
This is why you must ensure that your trees are sufficiently watered before the temperatures drop. The soil should not be completely dry, and watering should be done deeply to ensure enough hydration throughout the season. This is particularly important for new seedlings and young trees.
While watering in winter can be difficult, it cannot be avoided. Your trees may need occasional watering, especially if rainfall is scarce or the ground is frozen only partially. Do this winter tree care task on milder days to ensure moisture reaches the roots without causing ice damage.
5) Keep Emergency Tree Services On Hand
An essential part of your winter tree care routine is making sure you know who to call in an emergency. Winter storms can cause unexpected damage, such as fallen or dangerous branches, which need to be resolved quickly.
This is where tree surgeons, like our team, come in. This winter, make sure you have our contact details handy so you can call us when an emergency strikes. We can offer advice, such as Keep Trees Standing Strong Through Devon’s Autumn Storms: A How-To Guide, as well as provide the emergency tree care needed this season.
Our tree surgeons provide a range of services, including emergency responses, to keep your home and landscape safe. To learn more about what we do and how we can help, see our post What Does a Tree Surgeon Do, and When Should You Hire One?
We can help with the winter tree care tasks you cannot do alone, and ensure that your trees remain strong, secure, and safe this season.
Conclusion
Winter tree care is essential to maintaining the health, safety and aesthetic appeal of your trees this season. As the weather gets worse, with frost and storms approaching, you need to make sure your trees are secure to avoid issues, injuries and damage.
As leading tree surgeons, Kneebone Trees know exactly what is required to protect your trees this season. We are a local company, serving clients across Devon with year-round tree care. Our team is passionate and knowledgeable about the work they do, ensuring you are in safe hands with us.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about our services or to request a quote, please contact the team today.
FAQs
Can I prune all tree types in winter in Devon?
Most deciduous trees can be safely pruned during winter while they’re dormant, as this reduces stress and the risk of disease. However, avoid pruning spring-flowering trees like cherry or magnolia until after they’ve bloomed, as cutting them in winter can remove flower buds.
How much mulch is safe for tree roots?
A 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inch) layer of mulch around the base of your trees is ideal for winter tree care. Make sure to keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent moisture buildup that can lead to rot or pests.
What’s the best way to protect young trees from frost?
Wrap young or newly planted trees with breathable tree guards or horticultural fleece to shield them from frost and harsh winds. For extra protection, you can build a small windbreak or use stakes with burlap wraps, making sure the wrap doesn’t constrict growth or trap moisture against the bark.
