Well, it’s Toronto’s winter again. That season which we all prepare for the epic “Game of Thrones” like winter when our trees are standing like, “Wait, I wasn’t ready!” You can almost hear them sigh as the temperature drops. While I’d love to say that trees are little self-sufficient warriors fighting against these freezing temperatures, it’s not exactly a winter boot camp. Thankfully, your local toronto arborists (also known as tree surgeons of Tree Doctors) have provided us with some very useful guides on how to prepare trees for winter. Last year I saw a maple tree that certainly looked like it had been mauled by a blender & I do not wish to visit that trauma again.
Here’s how you can help your trees survive the Toronto winter and triumph over it:
Mulching – A warm hug for the trees!
When it is chilly and cold outside, a warm blanket is the food for the soul, so for a tree, imagine mulch as its favorite warm blanket during winter. I’m sure you would not leave the house in the midst of a snowstorm without tucking yourself in some scarves, caps and what fabric. Trees feel the same. All they ask for is a blanket loamy layer around the base to shield them from the water loss and the freezing of the roots.
Add about 2-4 inches of a thick durable blanket of mulch around the stems of your tree.
But a word of caution, do not cover the trunk of the tree with deep mulch as if trying to cover up a crime: ostracod a room at the base for aeration to minimize decay. Your toronto arborists would also say, under a mulch, a happy tree does not stifle.
Hydration-Time – Yes, All Bodies Of Trees Also Require Winter Water Needs
Winter, eh? Silent, freezing cold snow and trees leafless everywhere, but you would never have imagined that the trees would be thirsty themselves, arms waving, well, not really easily persuaded. Not me at least not until my poor oak tree went on a prolonged if silent and not very entertaining mini break: aka looking half dead by spring. The point here is, trees should be well moisturized before entering dormant season, and let’s be real here, winter months are barren, no not just for us mortals.
Make sure that it rains properly on the trees before frost comes. It is like tucking them up for a long sleep carrying plenty of water. Tree watering = spring resurrection.
Pruning – A Little Snip Never Hurt Anyone!
Here’s the thing: you might think winter is the worst time to prune, but no! As it is winter season to cut that unwanted growth off the tree, you do not have to crane your neck or bend down right or left to see and isolate the body sections where such excessive subtending and unwanted branches are protruding from. How about an analogy: it’s actually like getting rid of the unnecessary things in your home right before the New Year—cleaning a little querulous mess in order for everything to be in order at last.
Spring should bring fruitful results with the trees a little less in knots and more splendidly manicured. Of course, you could call in the experts – yep, those nasty arborists again – to prevent you from accidentally ruining your tree by making it look remarkably rational.
Wrapping Up – Because There Is No Such Thing as a Beautiful Tree in Winter
Let’s talk about those pesky freeze-thaw cycles that have winter temps bouncing up and down like a yo-yo. Just last week, it was a mild day, while the very next day, it felt like living in the North Pole. Well, this is very destructive to trees, especially the younger trees, who have a thinner bark and are easy to inflict injury.
Burlapping or using a tree wrap on your trees will protect them against frost cracks and sunscald (yes, even winter sun can prove to be a nuisance – go figure). It is like dressing up a person heading out in the cold – in this case, their tree ‘wears’ a scarf. But though it’s good to use tree wraps, do not forget to peel them off in spring or the tree will be having other issues (and, the tree will seem quite silly).
Making a Pest Inspection – Winter Still Has Pests, Regrettably
Okay, I understand. One would presume that winter should put a stop to any form of insect activity to the trees, but no, and I can assure you that, during the cold months, a certain category of insects will still plot how to feast on your trees. Even more structural damage can happen during the winter when the trees are surrounded by snow and other animals like mice, rabbits, deer, and of course some insects are starving due to lack of food.
Watch out for gnaw marks, or even better, place a preventative wrap around the trunk of the protected trees. Don’t wait until you see a rabbit chomping a favorite young tree like there’s no tomorrow! Your toronto arborists are skilled enough to suggest ways of eliminating these winter pests from your yard without having to construct a castle.
Winter Survival for Trees: It Is Not an Individual Effort
So, there you have it – five simple steps to prep your trees for winter. And I’d like to say, well, I know that sometimes we are all prone to the misconception when looking at a tree that “It’s a tree. How hard can it be to look after?” But then winter sets in, and suddenly it is as though all the trees are giving you the stink eye because they are cold, thirsty and most likely in need of a prune.
That is precisely why it is a good idea to always bring out the big guns. Fortunately for those Toronto arborists at Tree Doctors, they have indeed seen it all. They mean business when it comes to protecting your trees even when it is winter in Toronto. I mean seriously, a call to these guys, and your trees will become nostalgic in the spring begging to be showered with blossoms.
Now thank you I have some mulching to get to before my maple entertains the thought of emancipation.
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