Fall tree care: 8 things to do before winter
Asbury Park Tree Service · Updated
Fall is when most people stop thinking about their trees. It’s actually one of the best times to get them ready for what’s coming: nor’easters, ice, salt spray, and a few months of frozen ground.
None of this takes long. Here’s what to do between September and the first hard freeze.
1. Look your trees over once the leaves drop
With the leaves gone, you can see the whole structure of the tree. Walk around each big tree and look for:
- Dead branches (no buds, bark peeling off)
- Cracks in the trunk or where big limbs meet the trunk
- Branches hanging over the roof, driveway, or power lines
- Mushrooms or soft wood at the base
- A lean that wasn’t there last year
Anything on that list is worth dealing with before the first winter storm.
2. Take care of dangerous branches now
A dead limb over your roof in October is a simple cut. The same limb after an ice storm is a roof repair. If you’ve got weak or dead branches over the house, the driveway, or anywhere people walk, have them taken down before winter. Learn more about tree trimming
Save bigger pruning jobs for late winter, when the tree is fully dormant. Learn more about tree pruning
3. Keep watering until the ground freezes
Trees keep growing roots in fall, even after the leaves change. A dry fall sends them into winter thirsty, and evergreens keep losing water through their needles all winter long.
If it hasn’t rained much, give your trees a slow, deep soak every week or 2 until the ground freezes. Young trees and evergreens need it most.
4. Mulch the right way
A 2 to 4 inch layer of wood chips or shredded bark over the root zone keeps the soil from swinging between freezing and thawing, and it holds moisture in.
Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk. Mulch piled up against the bark holds moisture against it and invites rot and rodents.
5. Rake up leaves from diseased trees
If a tree had leaf spots or other disease this year, rake up its fallen leaves and get rid of them. A lot of leaf diseases spend the winter in the leaf litter and reinfect the tree in spring.
Healthy leaves are a different story. Mow them into the lawn or add them to the compost.
6. Only fertilize if the soil needs it
Fertilizer isn’t a vitamin boost for trees. Most established trees in a yard get what they need from the soil. If a tree looks weak or the leaves were pale all summer, get a soil test first (Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers them) and fertilize based on the results.
7. Protect evergreens from winter burn
Broadleaf evergreens like hollies, rhododendrons, and boxwoods can dry out and turn brown in winter, especially on the windy side of the house or near the beach. Deep watering in fall is the best protection. An anti-desiccant spray can help on shrubs that get hit every year.
8. Protect trunks from damage
Wounds in the bark are an open door for borers and disease. Keep the mower and string trimmer away from the trunk (a ring of mulch helps), and wrap the trunks of young, thin-barked trees if deer or rodents have been a problem.
When to call a professional
Call a tree company before winter if you find:
- Dead or cracked limbs over your house, driveway, or wires
- A big tree with a new lean or roots lifting
- Cracks in the trunk or a split between 2 main stems
- Signs of rot at the base
Asbury Park Tree Service handles tree trimming, tree pruning, and tree removal for homes and businesses in Asbury Park and nearby towns. Call 848-217-5320 for a free estimate.
FAQs
When should I start fall tree care?
September and October are ideal. You want weak limbs dealt with before the first nor’easter, and deep watering done before the ground freezes.
Should I prune trees in the fall?
Remove dead, broken, or dangerous branches any time. Save bigger pruning jobs for late winter, when the tree is dormant.
Should I fertilize my trees in the fall?
Only if a soil test shows they need it. Most established trees don’t.
Do trees need water in the fall?
Yes, if it’s been dry. Trees keep growing roots until the ground freezes, and evergreens lose water all winter.