Even with cooler temps, keep watering trees
Trees and newly established plantings are still in need of watering as winter approaches.
Until the ground freezes (usually November-December) it’s important to keep trees hydrated especially after the hot, dry, windy weather that has taken its toll.
If you didn’t have time for tree care this year, it’s not too late. Fall is the ideal time of the year to prepare woody plants for harsh weather.
“The winter dormancy of trees is often misunderstood,” said Eric Berg, Neb. Forest Service. “A common myth is that trees shut down and go to sleep for winter. In reality, trees experience some of their most dramatic growth and vigor from September through December, most of it occurring invisibly below ground, but of critical importance to spring growth.”
“With dry winds, subzero temperatures and potential fluctuations of 50 degrees on any given day, trees face a harsh environment,” Berg said.
Here are a few tips from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum on fall/winter watering:
• Water when the temperature is above 40 degrees and when there is no snow or ice on the ground around tree.
• Water early in the day, so the tree has time to absorb the moisture before the temperature falls at night.
• Water slow and deep and make sure the water gets all the way out to the edge of the tree’s root spread.
what to do
• Identify your trees’ needs and potential health issues.
• Consult. Know and understand your limits and consult with a certified arborist as needed, particularly for large, mature trees.
• Mulch around the base of trees with groundcovers or with four inches of organic wood chips. Extend to the edge of the dripline on smaller trees, and as far as feasible on larger trees. A circle of six-eight feet is ideal for most. Do not pile mulch against trunk, which can cause long-term damage and potential death.
• Remove or correct structural faults and dead wood, making smaller cuts to minimize wounding and exposure of heartwood. Prune damaged and declining twigs and branches to a healthy lateral branch.
• Aerate soils if they are compacted or poorly drained, but avoid damaging tree roots.
• Protect recently planted trees with immature bark with paper tree wrap, and use tree tubes or guards to protect them from mechanical and animal damage.
• Water trees and shrubs during periods of low moisture, as is the case this fall. Trees less than 10 years old are particularly vulnerable. Water only when soil is not frozen and temperatures are above 40 degrees. Use sprinklers, soaker hoses, spray wands or buckets with small holes drilled in the bottom to slowly disperse water. As a general rule, apply about 10 gallons of water per tree during dry periods, concentrating it under the drip line or canopy.
• Recycle leaves and yard debris into compost for healthy, nutrient-rich “living” soil. Adding moisture can help speed the breakdown.
Trees are important investments that provide enormous social, economic and environmental benefits. Investing in them in fall can yield returns next spring.
-Eric Berg, Neb. Forest Service