As fall approaches in Michigan, it’s time to start preparing our lawn and landscape for winter. But as you go about your fall chores, don’t forget that your trees need attention too.

Time to Prune

After all the leaves have fallen off your tree, it’s much easier to see its structure. This makes it much easier to prune in the fall. Pruning is vital for the health and wellbeing of your trees. It helps relieve stress and encourages growth in other parts of the tree.

Plant New Trees Now

Fall signifies the end of the growing season in the United States, so we don’t usually associate fall with planting something new. However, the cooler weather in fall is perfect for stimulating root growth in young new trees. Early in the season, only trees with their roots wrapped in burlap should be planted. Bare root plants should be planted later when they are completely dormant.

Add Mulch

Mulch serves multiple purposes, such as water retention, weed prevention, and aesthetic appeal, but it can act as a blanket for your trees in the fall and winter. A thin layer of mulch can protect your tree’s roots from deep frosts and unusually cold winters.

Feed Those Roots

We tend to think of trees as big, hardy giants that don’t need any help from us, but there are many forces out there that can damage your trees. Part of any good tree care regimen includes fertilization. But the problem with traditional surface fertilizers is that they usually stay on the surface and get washed out by the rain, and by the time it reaches down into the roots, it has been diluted and leached into the soil. This is why deep root feeding is the method of choice when it comes to tree fertilization. This eliminates common issues such as soil leaching and competition from other plants. The benefits of deep root fertilization include lush foliage, deep root growth, and makes the tree more resistant to diseases and pests.

Dormant Oil

We’ve dealt with weather and fertilization, and now it’s time to deal with tree pests. Pests like the emerald ash borer are very destructive to trees. Some bugs are so hard to see that they look like little bumps on your branches. If you look close, you will see that your trees are a regular hive of insect activity. Most of them don’t harm your tree, but in large numbers, they can defoliate your tree, causing it to stunt or making it vulnerable to tree diseases. 

To make sure your trees are fully protected this fall and next spring, you should apply horticultural oil or dormant oil. In the fall, adult insects lay their eggs on the bark of your trees where they will hatch in the spring to feed on your trees. Dormant oil kills Insects and their eggs that overwinter on the bark of trees by coating them in a thick substance.

Always apply dormant oil directly to the bark of the tree to kill insects such as:

• Sawflies

• Aphids

• Mites

• Spotted Lantern Fly

• Mealy worms

• Whiteflies

Make PPM Your Trusted Tree Service

If you are looking to improve your landscape, call the tree care experts at PPM Tree Service and Arbor Care. Our tree care experts can plant trees and make sure they grow straight and healthy. We have years of experience pruning, cabling, and removing dangerous trees.

Give us a call at (877) 454-8733 or request a quote here. Hear about the latest news and offers from PPM by following us on Twitter and Facebook. Don’t forget to check out the monthly PPM Tree blog for all your tree care tips and tricks.