Winter Summer Tree Gardening

​Winter Summer Tree Care starts the day after winter and continues through the summer. While summer trees are easier to look after, winter trees demand extra attention to keep them healthy all winter long. The following guide provides practical advice for winter tree care to help you enjoy your trees throughout the year.

Trees are exposed to extreme temperatures during the winter season and so it is important that they are well prepared for the winter. Make sure that any pruning you do in the winter will have no impact on your growth or fruit yield until after the first inch or so of snowfall. Take action before the first snowfall and your trees will remain strong and healthy even with the early winter frost. If pruning is unavoidable after the first few inches of snowfall, use a wait and cool pruner to ensure no damage is done to the tree. Wait until after the third inch of snow for most trees and after the fourth inch, for trees with dwarf varieties, you may want to consider waiting even longer for them to heal.

After the first few inches of snowfall, most winter trees will begin re-growth and can be pruned as normal. If pruning is unavoidable after this point, select and appropriate style of pruning to ensure minimal damage. A winter sitanga is often the most ideal pruning style to undertake if you can wait until the last few inches of snowfall to do it. If you prune before the final frost, it is likely that the tree will only be damaged to the extent that some of its branches may remain. If the remaining branches of the tree are not required, you may consider simply removing these branches and placing them elsewhere on the tree to enhance growth during the winter season.

During the winter season, trees tend to shed their leaves. Do not try to remove these leaves, as they will be regrown during the next growing season. It is best to wait until the winter has completely stopped before attempting to regrow any leaves. In addition to the leaves, most trees lose their needles during the winter season.

One thing to keep in mind when pruning the winter season is the general shape and structure of the tree. Do not prune branches that are already weak or brittle. If the winter leaves are brittle, it is possible that the tree will break at the base, especially if it is struck by heavy frost. It is also not a good idea to prune the tree right after the first winter rains in order to ensure that the growth is not stunted due to the moisture.

Trees tend to shed their leaves throughout the winter season, which should be observed. Look for leaf discoloration that occurs due to cold temperatures. Prune away any dead or discolored leaves to improve growth in the spring. If you find dead branches that are brittle, do not attempt to pull them back. These will cause severe damage to the tree and can injure the surrounding areas where you intend to plant the new ones. In order to increase the chances of success, make sure that the winter planted trees have been prepared properly.

One of the main concerns with planting trees during the winter season is watering. During the winter season, trees struggle to acquire enough moisture and nutrients from the ground. This can greatly affect their growth. The best time to water your trees is in early spring, while they are just starting to sprout new leaves.

When choosing which trees to plant in your yard during the winter season, consider factors such as: what type of tree grows best in your area; how much sun does the tree need; and, how much water does the tree need. In many cases, it is better to plant hardier species that are resistant to winter winds. For those that tend to shed their leaves during the winter season, some hardy species such as the red maple or the black locust can survive the lack of sunlight. The fall is a good time to fertilize trees, as this provides them with the additional needed nutrients in order to grow.