A little tree care in fall can go a long way to prepare your trees for the harsh winter and to help them to thrive in the spring.
Do Rake
Leaves are blowing from everywhere into your yard, flower beds, pools, hot tubs and lodge wherever they can. Many trees have fungus and parasites on them, and although they may not be from your trees, these pesky buggers can cause problems with your yard, pets and flower beds. The perfect place to put them is a compost pile so that you can have extra good soil for your next planting project.
And don't forget about the roof and gutters. Leaves and branches are falling and debis is collecting in your gutters and on the roof. This build-up can cause rainwater and ice to backup under shingles and leak into your home.
Do Mulch
In the fall you can put fresh mulch 1-2 inches deep as far out under the tree canopy you can.
Don't Prune
It can aid the growth of fungus, and trees will take longer to heal during the long winter. It is best to wait until the tree is dormant in the cold winter months.
Do Plant
Fall is the best time to establish a framework so that your new trees can get in the ground after the weather breaks and start to develop. They’re not going to actively grow above ground, but the root development is going to start to happen so that when spring gets here, they will have a full growing season and going into the heat of the summer.
Consider native trees as they demand less resources, so less watering and fertilizing them. Plus, unlike other plants, including some adapted varieties, native species are less susceptible to disease and hungry pests.
Use the Earth-Kind® plant selector to choose the best plants and trees to grow in your
Texas landscape.
