Fall Tree Tips from Avon Lake Tree Commission

Fall is a great time to inspect and take special care of trees in your yard to make sure they are ready for winter and new growth next spring.

• Look for defects such as broken, loose or dead limbs. Prune these now to avoid having limbs fall during a storm. If you don’t feel confident or need to get on a ladder to prune, call an arborist. Lastly, but importantly, to prevent disease (oak wilt) from spreading, do not prune oak trees until they are dormant! For tips on pruning, here’s a link to a brief guide: https://extension.unh.edu/sites/default/files/migrated_unmanaged_files/Resource007692_Rep11274.pdf
• On larger trees, look for missing bark, a leaning trunk, raised ground around the tree, cavities, cracks in the bark or at branch connections, or insects/fungus/mushrooms anywhere on the tree. These could be signs of stress or damage from storms, and trees showing these signs should be inspected by an arborist.
• Because of our dry, drought conditions, trees need to be watered to enter dormancy and winter with plenty of moisture reserves. This is especially true for young trees planted in the past few years. Water once per week using a slow flow from a hose at the base of these young trees for at least 10 – 20 minutes depending on the tree size.
• Refreshing mulch around trees will help preserve moisture. Total depth of the mulch should be 2” – 4”, but do not allow the mulch to touch the trunk. There are way too many ‘mulch volcanoes’ on trees around Avon Lake and elsewhere. These provide habitat for insects and fungi that shorten the life span of your trees.
• Fall is also a great time to plant a new tree. Just make sure not to plant it too deeply. Here is a guide to getting it right: https://www.ohiochapterisa.org/aws/OCISA/asset_manager/get_file/828638?ver=3
  Fertilizer is rarely needed on trees in our region and should only be applied if soil and/or leaf analysis indicates a nutrient deficiency.

To find a certified arborist: www.treesaregood.org

For more information about your Avon Lake Tree Commission: https://www.avonlake.org/boards-commissions/tree-commission