The same way you love to huddle on your couch with a hot cup of coffee and your favorite show to binge, trees also need some tender loving and care when the wintry comes. The fluctuating temperatures, characteristic of winter, take a toll on trees as much as they do on humans. The trees in our backyards and suburban landscapes are hit the most with the newly planted and young trees with less developed defense mechanisms being more vulnerable.
Long Island NY is notorious for its harsh climate that is responsible for bleaching and desiccating evergreen foliage, bark damage and branch injury, flower buds, and root damage. Due to the pressing food shortage, Rodents and deer feed on tree parts sometimes causing serious damage to the trees. To ensure you give your tree care during winter in Long Island NY we recommend the following.
Bracing for cold temperatures
Intense variations between warmer daytime temperatures and colder nighttime temperatures stress trees. The fluctuations cause cracks on the trees usually called frost cracking, southwest injury, or sunscald. Even though trees can repair themselves, subsequent cracking in the same spot damages the tree.
For late-season tree growth, early frost forms ice crystals in the cell walls and ruptures them; the new tips of branches usually die off next season. Avoid pruning until after the tree becomes dormant in the fall; pruning encourages new growth and increases the risk of cold stress and frost. Pruning during dormancy also prevents disease spread.
Drape the trunks with crepe paper tree wrap, plastic tree guards up to the lowest branch, and remove the wrapping in the springtime after the last frost. Cover younger trees with burlap or breathable mesh and an exoskeleton to hold the cover in place.
Winter drought
Trees can dry out during winter when they lose more water than they can absorb from ice. Lay down a thick layer of organic mulch around the tree before the onset of winter. Encircling the tree with a 3-5inch layer of mulch helps the soil maintain warmth and moisture and as it gradually decomposes, it adds nutrients to the soil.
Apply mulch underneath the drip line of the trees and add more mulch as the ground freezes. When combined with deep watering, mulching improves the trees’ chances of surviving the winter. Water the trees well with 10-15 gallons throughout fall until the ground freezes.
Branches breaking off
The wood hardens during winter and becomes brittle and vulnerable making it easier to break especially during strong winds. The accumulation of snow on the branches also contributes to breakage. Prune weak and vulnerable branches and cover the tree or tie up the branches to reinforce them. Make the cuts properly to ensure the tree can heal itself.
Pruning during winter enables the trees to heal in time before the warmer months. Cold temperatures accelerate healing and prevent further damage due to fungal infections or insect damage on the wounds.
Choose Antonio Tree Services for professional care of your trees
We offer professional tree care during winter in Long Island NY. Our team of tree care experts will inspect, diagnose, and offer the best alternative for protecting your trees, shrubs, and herbs during the winter. From wrapping to pruning to mulching, our remarkable experience in tree care during winter in Long Island NY allows us to give your collection the best chance of surviving the freeze and thaw cycle
