The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Trees for Winter in Mid-Missouri

Our Tips for Winter Tree Care in Columbia, MO

Mulching, Watering & Tree Trimming Tips from Braik’s Tree Care

1. Pay special attention to newly planted trees.

Your young trees typically need more care and attention going into the winter months than old, mature trees might. Newly planted trees aren’t quite as developed and strong enough to withstand the cold and snow on their own. Be sure to take extra care of your new trees this winter.

2. Protect bark with a tree trunk wrap.

Trees with thin bark, like maples, can be damaged under the winter sun. The bark may split due to the difference in temperature on the side of the tree facing the sun versus the shady side. This is especially prominent in young trees, which haven’t had a chance to develop thick, protective bark. Using tree wrap from late fall until spring can help prevent bark damage like cracks and rupturing.

3. Water your trees before the ground freezes.

To prevent them from drying out, water the base of your trees before the ground freezes. Don’t be mistaken — even when snow is present, it isn’t a good source of water for your trees. So, make sure to generously water the base of your trees before brittle cold hits. This is especially important for newly planted trees. Avoid directly applying water to the trunk or the area right around it. Instead, water the area beneath the tree’s canopy, or it’s leaves and branches.

4. Apply mulch around trees.

Adding a protective layer of mulch around your trees can insulate against cold temperatures, reduce soil evaporation and lock in moisture. Put a 2-4 inch layer of wood chips, bark or other organic mulch around, but not directly up against the tree. You can even use recycled autumn leaves in your mulch mixture to help retain nutrients.

5. Clear snow from tree branches.

Heavy snow can weigh down delicate or otherwise fragile tree limbs. Carefully brush snow off branches to prevent them from breaking and potentially landing on vehicles, homes or other property. However, be careful not to break branches that may have iced over. It is better to remove heavy snow but allow ice to melt from the branches.

6. Get tree trimming in the winter.

Tree trimming has many benefits, including preserving your trees’ health. Carefully removing specific damaged, dead or unwanted parts of a tree is called pruning. It’s important to perform pruning during the correct time of year to lessen the chances of disease. 

Winter is a dormant season for trees, making it an ideal time to prune their branches in preparation for spring. Leaves have fallen and the tree's structure is more visible, which makes it easier to detect problems and navigate the pruning process. Plus, pruning before spring allows trees to reach their full growth potential when they finally bloom. 

Toward late winter, have an arborist take a look at your trees and remove any dead or diseased branches. It’s important to have a professional handle this task, as cutting off too many branches or cutting too close to the trunk can seriously damage a tree’s health. Braik’s Tree Care offers reliable, affordable tree trimming in Columbia and the surrounding Missouri areas to keep you trees thriving all year long.

Choose Braik’s Tree Care for Tree Trimming & Other Tree Services in Columbia, MO

Don’t take your trees’ health for granted! The certified arborists at Braik’s Tree Care can help assess your trees’ health and perform the tasks necessary to help them each live a long life. The safety and overall aesthetic of your trees depends on properly performed tree trimming, removal and other services, so don’t trust just anyone for the job. Our experts perform residential and commercial tree care, and we can handle any project at your home or business. Explore our recent tree removal and tree trimming in Columbia, MO and give us a call.

Get a free consultation for our tree services in Columbia, MO! Call Braik’s today at (573) 886-8733 or send us a message.