While Florida winters are mild compared to other parts of the country, cold snaps - especially overnight - can still damage trees. Taking some basic steps to prepare your trees for winter can help them stay healthy throughout the season. Following these tree care tips will set up your trees to thrive when warmer weather returns.
Why Winter Tree Care Matters
Caring for trees in winter is just as important as during the active growing period. Trees go dormant in winter, meaning their above-ground growth slows or stops. But important life processes continue happening below ground all winter long.
Cold weather can harm trees in a few key ways if they aren't properly prepared:
- Damage to roots and branches from freezing temperatures
- Dehydration due to lack of moisture
- Greater susceptibility to pests and diseases
Additionally, winter is when trees store important reserves they need to grow new leaves and shoots in spring. Making sure trees are healthy going into winter helps them emerge vigorous and ready to grow when conditions improve.
Assess Tree Health Before Winter Sets In
The best time to winterize trees is during fall, before cooler weather settles in. Start by walking around your landscape and carefully observing each tree. Look for:
- Dead or dying branches
- Signs of disease or infestation
- Cracks, wounds, or other damage to bark
- Tilting trunk or other structural issues
Catching problems early makes treatment easier. Have a professional arborist inspect trees and provide seasonal tree care if you notice anything concerning.
You should also consider each tree's specific needs. Native tree species that evolved in Florida’s climate can handle winter conditions well. But cold snaps can severely impact tropical trees not adapted to cooler weather. Know what types of trees you have and focus extra care on more vulnerable species.
Watering Trees Before Winter
Adequate soil moisture is key to helping trees survive winter. Dry soils can damage roots and leave trees struggling to absorb enough water.
Prior to winter, deeply water all trees until the soil is saturated. This helps ensure tree roots have sufficient moisture reserves banked to last through drier winter months. Add a layer of mulch around each tree to help lock in soil moisture.
Plan to water trees deeply every few weeks through winter if rainfall is lacking. Soils should never be allowed to completely dry out for extended periods when trees are dormant.
Protect Trees from Winter Damage
Cold winds combined with freezing temperatures can severely harm a tree’s vascular system, especially in the canopy. Take steps to shield trees from winter’s harsh elements.
Prevent Freeze Damage
Wrap tree trunks and main branches with commercial tree wrap designed to insulate against cold. Secure wraps loosely enough to not constrict branches. Leave wraps on until consistent warmer weather returns in spring.
Spraying trunks and branches with antitranspirants is another option. These waxy coatings slow moisture loss from tissue to limit freeze damage. Apply at least 48 hours before sub-freezing temperatures are forecast.
Covering smaller trees with fabric tree bags or envelopes offers maximum protection. Stake structures solidly to prevent wind whipping. Ventilate covers during sunny days to avoid overheating.
Support Heavy Branches
Branches can crack under the weight of ice and snow. This risk is highest on broad-leafed trees like oak and magnolia. Prevent limb breakage by proactively supporting vulnerable branches with ropes, cables, or poles.
Branches that snapped or broke over the year should also be removed before winter when iced branches could make tears worse. Professionally brace heavy limbs too large to preemptively remove.
Prune Branches Strategically
Pruning before winter serves multiple key purposes:
- Removes dead wood and branches weakened by disease or pests
- Thins excess interior growth to allow wind to pass through instead of catching it
- Balances form by cutting back lopsided limbs
- Lightens branch loads in advance of ice or snow accumulation
Have a certified arborist perform structural pruning to maintain trees' natural shapes. Never arbitrarily cut back healthy new growth. Schedule major pruning jobs before winter arrives or delay work until late spring when sap flow slows.
Fertilize Trees at the Right Time
Fertilization encourages the soft tissue growth trees need to power coming season. But ill-timed applications when trees are going dormant can leave them vulnerable to cold damage.
Instead, plan to fertilize approximately six weeks before the average first frost date in your area. Apply again in late winter before warming starts renewed growth. This bracketed feeding mirrors trees' natural cycles.
Select a balanced organic fertilizer made specifically for trees. Have soil tested to dial in the exact nutrients each tree requires. Proper fertilization strengthens trees to handle seasonal shifts.
Monitor for Pests
Insects, diseases, and other tree pests seek out weak or stressed trees. Keep trees as healthy as possible going into winter to limit susceptibility. But also regularly check for common winter pests like:
- Scale insects - These immobile insects attach to branches and feed on sap. Heavy infestations can seriously weaken trees. Apply horticultural oils to suffocate populations.
- Borers - Larvae of certain moths and beetles burrow tunnels under tree bark that can ultimately girdle trees. Keep trees vigilant and quickly treat signs of infestation.
- Cankers - Fungal infections create sunken dead areas on bark that can eventually kill sections of trees. Prune out cankers as soon as they appear.
Catching issues early makes treatment easier in most cases. Have infested trees professionally treated or risk losing them.
Clear Debris from Around Trees
Fallen leaves, sticks, and other debris collecting around the base of trees can prevent proper air circulation. This allows fungal issues to take hold. Plus, piled debris makes perfect shelter for pest like mice and voles that chew on tasty bark.
Regularly clear away leaf litter and other organic matter around trees. Pull back mulch from directly touching tree trunks. Keep the area tidy through winter to support tree health.
Prune Trees After Winter Danger Passes
Once consistently warmer weather returns in early spring, trees benefit from some post-winter pruning. Focus on:
- Removing any remaining dead or damaged limbs from winter stresses
- Cutting back branches broken by ice/snow to just above the fracture line to encourage new growth
- Shaping trees and improving structure while they are still dormant
- Thinning interior branches that crossed or grew too densely over winter
Take care not to accidentally prune away early spring buds beginning to swell with sap flow. Time pruning to finish before growth resumes.
Prepare for Next Winter
Caring for trees is a year-round endeavor. As this winter passes, make notes on trees that struggled or had damage. This allows you to focus special attention on getting them healthier next year.
Also note winter tree care steps that worked particularly well in your landscape. Consistently preparing trees for seasonal changes is key to maintaining their health long-term.
Trust Your Local Central Florida Winter Tree Care Professionals
If winterizing your landscape feels overwhelming, the arborists at Tree Work Now can help. Our winter tree care services include:
- Tree health evaluations and winter readiness assessments
- Pruning trees for structure, health, and safety
- Providing preventative treatments to avoid freeze damage
- Bracing heavy ice-prone branches
- Monitoring for and treating winter tree pests
We have helped Florida residents expertly care for their trees through winter for over 15 years. Our certified arborists customize services to match each tree's needs across all seasons.
Give your trees the best chance of thriving through winter with a little TLC - and let our tree care pros at Tree Work Now handle the rest! Reach out today for your free quote.
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