Winterizing Your Trees

Fall is rapidly approaching with winter on its heels. Fall and winter tree care are as vital to healthy trees, especially newly planted trees, as spring and summer attention. Following is some important information from

Purdue Extension to help ensure winter survival of your trees:

*WATER: Please discontinue filling the Tree Gators (green bags placed around the trees planted last spring. The Tree Board will soon be removing

them to avoid freezing of the bags, and gators will not be placed around the 9 trees being planted this fall. However, young or newly-planted trees

continue to require attention. The key to survival is adequate moisture before winter freezes. Continue to water these young trees at the rate of approximately 5 gallons per week throughout the fall until the ground freezes, particularly if drought conditions continue. Occasional watering can continue through the winter (if there is inadequate snowfall) on a warm day when/if the temperature is above 40 degrees.

*TRUNK WRAPPING: Guarding of trunks of young and smooth bark trees (honey locust, crabapple, linden and especially maple) against frost cracks and

sunscald is essential. A flexible, white tree wrap should be used. The Tree Board will be placing this wrap on the 32 trees planted last spring and this fall. The wrap will be removed by the Tree Board after the last freeze

to reduce potential damage from disease and insects.

*PRUNING: Late fall and early winter are acceptable times for limited functional pruning; that is, removal of water sprouts and basal sprouts (suckers). The Tree Board will try to get this limited pruning accomplished but with limited volunteer help, it may not be possible to do all 32 new

trees. If you wish to attempt this pruning yourself and have questions, please contact either the City Office or a Tree Board member. DO NOT do extensive pruning the first two years after a tree is planted.

*FERTILIZING: Because of the drought Roundup experienced this spring and fall, an application of a low nitrogen fertilizer (5-10-10) broadcast evenly over the root zone with adequate water is recommended. This will help the trees absorb nutrients without causing a new flush of growth.