Greetings fellow tree lovers! A question I often receive this time of year is “what can I do to promote health and vigor in our trees to prepare them for the winter season”. Aside from structural preparation to protect trees from snow loading issues, at Arbor Green Tree Care we recommend an annual autumnal fertilization program. This involves deep root liquid fertilizer, soil amendments, and vertical mulching. Deep root fertilizer comes in a concentrated form and is diluted and applied according to specific variables associated with climate and soil structure. Soil amendments are integrated just above the surface feeding roots and are designed to break down slowly. The soil amendments contain organic elements intended to contribute to the soil’s texture, porosity and general composition. Lastly, vertical mulching is the process of using a power auger to drill holes around the drip line of individual trees up to 2 feet under the soil surface. The holes are then filled with various organic elements that are intended to slowly break down and transform the surrounding rhizosphere into a more productive ally to the tree’s vascular system.
Vertical mulching around stressed red maple
Arbor Green Tree Care recommends fall fertilization to prepare trees and shrubs for the next growing season. The liquid fertilizer method is designed to be drawn into and stored by the root systems then converted into sugars and carbohydrates for use when the trees and shrubs emerge from the dormant state.
There are various stresses that trees and shrubs are subjected to during the growing season that can deplete the tree’s energy stores. This may create a cycle of stresses that can lead to the presence of insects, pathogens and other diseases in otherwise healthy-looking trees and shrubs. Taking preventative steps as mentioned can prevent potential problems and keep your landscape healthy and beautiful for years to come.
Yours for healthy trees,
Bill
