Fall Tree Checklist

Fall is a great time to inspect your trees and shrubs for any signs of damage from weather, insects and diseases. As the leaves drop, you should have a much better view of the tree’s structure. Look for weakened, broken, or rotting branches, which may not be strong enough to withstand the added weight of a heavy snowfall or ice storm.

After inspecting your landscape, you’ll want to be sure that any critical risk trees are properly removed. A professional arborist can carefully and efficiently work to minimize waste and damage to the surrounding landscape. Remaining trees can be pruned of dead or diseased branches. Finally, as leaves begin to drop, clear the leaf piles from beds and turf.

Your trees and plants have been continuously absorbing vital nutrients from your soil throughout the summer. Now is the time to fertilize and replace those nutrients. Fall fertilization is especially important for younger, less established trees that are more susceptible to storm damage. By using a slow-release fertilizer, nutrients will distribute to the root system for several months and improve resistance to damage by disease or insects.

Did you know fall is the best time to plant new trees? Planting trees and shrubs in early fall gives plants a head start to establish roots in the season’s cool, moist soil. It is important to plant early in the season to give your newly planted trees enough time to build root mass and prepare for winter dormancy.

Give young trees and shrubs the best chance to survive cold temperatures and snow by adding a layer of mulch before the ground freezes. High-quality mulch helps keep nutrient-dense organic matter in the soil around the tree, conserves soil moisture and helps control weeds. Keep mulch two to three inches away from the stems of shrubs or trunks. Otherwise, the mulch could cause the wood to rot over time.