Winter is a difficult time for trees. Trees must stand in the face of drying and cold winds. Food reserves must be carefully conserved for the coming needs of spring. Water continues to be lost from the tree. Any creature needing a meal chews and nibbles on the resting buds and twigs. Trees stand alone against all circumstances that the winter season can generate.

A few small investments now can pay-off in a large way, yielding a healthy and structurally sound tree.

The “Top 10 List” of things you can do to winterize your tree include:

1. Remove or correct structural faults and deadwood that are clearly visible. Try to make small pruning cuts that minimize the exposure of the central heartwood core on branches.
2. Properly prune branches that will touch the ground when loaded with rain and snow. Foliage and branches that are in contact with soil can invite undesirable pests and problems.
3. Remove damaged and declining twigs, branches, and bark. Do not leave pests food and shelter for the winter.
4. Remove any new sprouts that have grown at the tree base, or along stems and branches. Pruning should conserve as many living branches as possible with only a few selective cuts.
5. Spread a thin layer of composted organic mulch to blanket the soil. Cover an area at least as large as the branch spread. Mulch is nature’s of recycling valuable materials, but be careful of pests hitching a ride.
6. Properly wrap new trees that have not developed a corky bark and could be easily damaged. Mechanical injury from the environment, including chewing and rubbing by animals, must be prevented.
7. Aerate soils if they are compacted and poorly drained. It is critical not to damage tree roots in the soil. Saturated and dense soil can suffocate roots.
8. Fertilize with all the essential elements, if they are in short supply within the soil. Be sure to go lightly with nitrogen, especially under large, mature trees and around newly planted trees.
9. Watering may be needed where soils are cool but not frozen, and there has been little precipitation. Winter droughts need treatment with water the same as summer droughts, except it is much easier to over-water in winter.

Trees are investments that require a small amount of care. For the sake of your tree’s quality of life and your own, take a few minutes to winterize your tree. Wonderful springs come from well-tended winters.

Contact Weed Pro Lawn Care directly for help with your landscape projects. Additional reference sources include duluth lawn treatment or alpharetta lawn care.

Mr. Weedy spotlight video of the week :: Henbit

Mr. Weedy spotlight video of the week :: Wild Onion

Mr. Weedy spotlight video of the week :: Poa Annua

http://weedpro.com/Education/edu_video.php?sec=3&vid=japbeetle

http://weedpro.com/Education/edu_photo.php?sec=3

1. *Weed Pro (Your Selected Lawn Care Treatment Program Application)!
   (Round #4 June/July) http://weedpro.com/Traditional/traditional_plus.html  or   http://weedpro.com/Organic_Lawn/organic_service.html
2. Post-emergence Weed Control for Turf and Beds. http://weedpro.com/Traditional/herbicides.html
3. Perform a soil test for fescue lawns. http://weedpro.com/Traditional/soil_test.html
4. Fertilize, Hand Remove Weeds and Deadhead Flowers in Landscape
5. Complete All Flower bed Installations! http://weedpro.com/Flowers/flowers.html
6. Keep your shrubs watered with one gallon per foot of height for best results. http://www.urbanagcouncil.com/
7. It’s ok to remove one fourth of the foliage of any healthy tree during the growing season if low limbs are hanging over sidewalks or driveways etc.

SECOND WEEK

1. *Weed Pro (Your Selected Tree & Shrub Program)!
   (Round #3 May/June). http://weedpro.com/Organic_Tree_Shrub/organic_tree_shrub.html
2. Consider using soaker hose irrigation or drip irrigation for all your annuals, perennials and shrubs.
3. Check your lawn for “Brown Patch” Fungi, if you see circular, dead, brown spots call Weed Pro for an evaluation. http://weedpro.com/Education/edu_video.php?sec=2
4. It’s time to Mulch your vegetable garden! Try using newspaper to cover the ground around the plants, then cover with a mulch product.. http://weedpro.com/Maintenance/mulch.html  http://weedpro.com/Maintenance/pinestraw.html
5. Ask your friends and relatives to save their emptied medicine bottles. They can be re-labeled, keeping plant seeds dry and easy to store.

 THIRD WEEK

1. Collect the seeds from foxglove stalks. Scratch the soil around the plant and cover the seed with a bit of soil. Water occasionally and the seedlings will bloom next year.
2. Keep your outdoor houseplants watered regularly. Also invest in a water moisture meter, they work great for Flower pots and will help you from over watering. Over watering causes root rot!
3. Plant your summer annuals near the entry of your home, the visual impact is sure to impress your friends. http://weedpro.com/Flowers/flowers.html

FOURTH WEEK

1. Prune Azaleas after the Bloom Cycle.
2. Keep your mower height high based on your grass variety, this will help your turf withstand dry hot weather. Also, keep your mower blades sharp to reduce ragged cuts.http://weedpro.com/Education/edu_video.php?sec=1
3. Prune your hydrangeas back after the blooms have faded. This will increase new flowers in the fall season.
4. Water your lawn once per week if restrictions allow. http://www.urbanagcouncil.com/
5. Prune all shrubs (Based on Horticultural Requirements)
6. Remove Tree suckers and any Vines Growing on Shrubs