Winter Pruning

Winter is the perfect time to prune your deciduous trees.  

Why Prune in Winter? 

Once the trees lose their leaves, you can view the structure of the trees more easily. This can make it easier to see what needs to be done and see any problems that should be taken care of.  

Winter is also the dormant time for these trees.  This means that the fresh wounds will only be exposed for a short time and that the insects/diseases that are more prevalent in Spring, are not attacking your wounded tree in Winter. 

Pruning in winter also promotes faster regrowth in Spring.

What are the Benefits of Pruning?

First, it is about safety.  You should cut back branches that have overgrown in areas that could be annoying or dangerous – for example, over walkways and driveways. Also, branches that have overlapped and can cause damage to each other can be pruned so that the healthier branch will remain.  And, lastly, removing dead or dying branches now is better than a storm breaking them and causing damage to other plants, property or yourself.

Pruning allows sunlight and air into the center of the tree – just enough to promote healthy growth. 

Beauty is the last, yet still important, reason to prune. To cut back the branches and foresee what the tree will look like in spring as it gives out its new growth. 

Pruning is something you can do yourself, or you can call an expert to do it.  If are unable to safely prune, please call someone who can.  And, remember, Truesdale can always help.

Winter Damage to Your Landscape Plants and Trees

Long winters with snow, ice and extreme cold can create a lot of damage to landscape plants.  There are both natural and man made problems that can occur.  How can you tell which are major problems and which will work itself out? How can you prevent some of these issues from occurring year after year?  Let us help.

Branches which are splayed open – not damaged but severely bent – can be caused by snow and ice weight during winter.  Some of these branches will bounce back on their own but some will need to be tied up or trimmed.  This can mostly be prevented by proper pruning techniques done at the appropriate time of year.

Defoliation or brown leaves of evergreens in winter (winter burn or scorch) is usually seen with broadleaf evergreen more than needle evergreens and it is caused by desiccation.  Desiccation is when moisture that the plant needs during the harsh winter months is lost due to the sunny/windy weather.  Unfortunately, the plant cannot derive the needed moisture from the frozen soil.  This is another problem that can be prevented with an anti-desiccant which would be applied in late fall/early winter.  An anti-desiccant treatment forms a protective wax-like layer which seals in moisture and helps retard winter dehydration.

De-icing may also cause leaf scorch.  De-icing damage can be caused by casual salting of the area near your landscape plants or from runoff from the roads that contain dissolved salts. This can be prevented by making sure the soil in these areas are heavy in nutrients to help the plants during the winter, planting more hardy plants that can handle the salt better, or being extra careful on salt distribution around your landscaped areas.

With some of these problems, the plant in spring will grow out these areas and new growth will come in.  In other cases, you might need some fertilization to strengthen the plant and give it the nutrients it needs to heal.  If the area is damaged and there is no new growth potential, the area will need to be trimmed.

Not sure what to do?  Not a problem – just call us and we will help.  

Fall Into Winter with Ease

It’s time to finish up those odds and ends before it gets too late and winter is here. If  you haven’t already done so, you should fertilize your lawn before the leaves begin to fall in full force, as this is your last chance to ensure that your lawn gets the important nutrients it needs in order to maintain its lush and healthy vibrancy. Be sure to scan your property regularly; if you notice diseased or damaged plants, now is the time to address them. Take advantage of the warm weather to clean up any remaining bed weeds. It’s always good to mulch beds, add new plants or replace the dead ones at this point. And finally, trim back your trees so that they survive the harsh winter storms. There is still plenty left to do this month in order to prepare your property for the winter. It’s simple; Truesdale is here to handle the tough tasks for you.

Prepare Your Beds

Mulching beds around your trees and shrubs is extremely important in order to help prevent weeds from growing back, to provide warmth for your plants during the colder temperatures and to eliminate moisture. Trim back your perennials, annuals and bulbs properly to reduce any remaining diseases from the winter. Whether it is trimming Hydrangeas or cutting back your beautiful Daylilies and Heuchera, the correct approach in the fall will ensure their beauty next year.

Last Chance for Planting

The best time for planting is Fall. There is still some time to revamp your landscaping by adding new plants or replacing the older ones. Keep in mind that it is best to plant your shrubs and trees sooner than later, while they are still dormant, to give them the best opportunity for growth come springtime.

Fall Fertilization

It’s not too late to fertilize. In fact, fertilization in the fall will boost the root system and help you achieve that beautiful lush green lawn that we all strive for.  

Pruning

Pruning during this time of year promotes fast re-growth in the spring. The leaves have all fallen and the “woody” plants are dormant making it easier to trim. Pruning is necessary to remove dead, diseased, broken or overlapping limbs. It reduces the weight of branches that are prone to breakage from storms or heavy snowfall. Pruning properly drives away those pesky critters and diseases, which also means it’s less work for you in the long run.

Helpful Tip: Importance of Clearing Up the Leaves from your Lawn 

Remember to remove leaves in order to prevent mold disease, for proper growth, and for cleanliness of your property.

While these are all good reasons to get rid of the leaves, there is one important factor to keep in mind (that is not so obvious), which is to help nature step in by allowing the sunlight and plants to work together. This is a crucial time for grasses to rejuvenate themselves and strengthen their roots.

Fallen leaves can overshadow and prevent grass from growing properly (if at all). That being said, remove those excess leaves and your lawn will thank you in the end. 

Are You Sure You Know What, When and How To Prune?

                                               

Some people consider the act of pruning, a form of art; and like any masterpiece, the end result is rewarding. Similar to art, there are several different techniques to pruning if you are looking to achieve a certain effect like privacy, windbreaks or even just for a fuller look. Let’s be honest though … it can be quite time consuming and it takes A LOT of patience. While there are no short-cuts to pruning, when done properly (and with the right tools), you will reap all the benefits in due time.  There’s nothing wrong with a temporary fix, but wouldn't you rather prevent future problems all together?

So let’s get down to the basics!

Plants can usually be pruned after new growth emerges in the spring in order to maintain and control growth. Simply put … the more you prune, the more you will notice any abnormalities and therefore treat them before it is too late. If you want your foliage to look full and healthy, you’ll need to prune anything that is diseased and/or damaged.

Knowing when to prune is often very important, but then again it also depends on the type of plants you own and what is best for them at that time. Think of pruning as one of the answers to most of your plants’ distress if you notice anything irregular. For instance, not pruning before a storm hits can cause more damage than you can believe … not only to your trees or plants, but on your wallet as well. So, bear in mind that pruning properly and regularly often prevents storms from damaging or tearing up your trees or plants tremendously. Really, the best advice we can give is to prune at such a time that will not shock your plant.

Look for:

•  Awkward limbs
• Vertical buds from branches (known as water sprouts)
• Dangling branches, crossing or rubbing branches
• Insect-infested wood
• Excess growth

Truesdale Nursery and Landscaping is here to help you! We have experienced professionals who are skilled and available to prune your plants properly so that they can maintain their beautiful and healthy look. If you want your property to look its best then give us a call and schedule your appointment today. You can reach us at (908) 834-2675.   

May 2014 Edition of Linda's Corner

Flowers!

May is my favorite month for flowers. With an abundance of assorted colors to choose from, the right combination can really make your yard "POP". Remaining aware of bloom times for annuals and perennials will allow you to enjoy vibrant color all summer long. A few easy maintenance tips can mean all the difference between dull, weak plants and bright, thriving plants.

• "Dead-head" annuals to allow space for new flowers. Removing finished blooms will enable the plant to concentrate all it's energy on pushing new buds.
• Dig and divide early blooming perennials immediately after flowering if desired.
• Move house plants outdoors only after night temps are consistently above
  50-60 degrees F.
• Prune early Spring flowering shrubs after bloom to assure a healthy full bloom
  for next year.
• Be conscious of where you are planting sun thriving or shade loving plants. As temps increase this becomes more of a factor.
• When planting both annuals and perennials, loosen up the root ball before planting to encourage immediate root growth.

While I concentrate a large portion of my time and energy on my plants, I never forget about my lawn. Nothing makes a property look better than a think healthy green lawn. May is a good time to fertilize your lawn and apply a crab grass pre-emergent if  you had problems in the past. Tackling weeds early will lead to an easier, more inexpensive solution. Keeping a regular cutting schedule is key to having a beautiful lawn.