Preparing Your Landscape and Trees for the Holidays

With all of the family events and shopping this time of year, it’s easy to forget about preparing your landscape and trees for the holidays. The last thing you want as guests arrive is for them to be greeted by an unwelcoming outdoor environment. It also makes decorating your yard so much more of a hassle when trying to hang lights in an overgrown tree, or one with dead branches. This may have been acceptable in October when things are meant to be spooky, but it’s not Halloween anymore and you want things to be bright and cheery! Here are some ways Branching Out Tree Service can help care for your trees and landscape…and why they are extra important as we enter the holiday season.

Tree Trimming and Pruning

You might be under the impression that tree maintenance can’t be done during the fall or winter months. But that’s not always the case, especially in mild to moderate climates like we have here in Tucson.

Although some trees should never be trimmed during the colder months, this time of year is optimal for trimming and pruning deciduous trees. In the fall deciduous trees enter a state of dormancy after leaf drop. It lasts until warmer temperatures trigger them to generate new growth. There are several benefits to trimming your tree during this rest period.

Without any leaves, tree branches that are dead, diseased, or dangerous become more apparent. That makes it much easier for a qualified arborist to evaluate the structure of your tree and identify exactly what needs to be pruned.

Pruning excess branches will allow the tree to store more energy reserves in the root system during the winter. The tree then becomes stronger and better prepared for vigorous spring growth as a result. In addition, pruning during dormancy promotes “optimum wound closure” so trees heal from cuts faster. The cold also prevents serious tree diseases from being transmitted. Many types of disease-causing bacteria, fungi, parasites, and insects are either dead or dormant in the winter.

Tree Removal

As much as we love trees, in some situations the best solution is tree removal. Let’s be honest, sometimes trees can just be more of a hassle than an asset.

Certain types of tree can drop excessive amounts of debris in your yard. Deciduous trees are obviously a big culprit as they lose all of their leaves in the fall. Other trees might drop flowers and pollen in the spring, then fruit or seed pods, and then leaves in the fall. If the tree is quite large it can be very overwhelming for a homeowner to constantly pick up after. When one of these trees are near a pool the cleanup is even more frustrating.

When a tree dies it can become a major hazard to have around your home. Dead branches are brittle and easily break during windy weather. They can fall on houses, cars, or people causing serious injury or damage. And of course, a dead or diseased tree is simply not very nice to look at. This is a very important safety aspect to consider when preparing your landscape and trees for the holidays!

Many people also choose to remove a tree because of problems with tree roots. Water and sewer lines are at risk of infiltration from invasive tree species. Expensive repairs are then needed to remove the blockage and repair the system. Tree roots can also damage sidewalks, driveways, and patios. As they expand under the surface, they start to upheave the structure above, ultimately causing it to break and crack.

Tree Planting

A new tree can supply years of added beauty, value, and eventually much needed shade to your yard! Springtime is usually the season associated with planting. For trees however, the fall months are actually the best time to plant.

As we mentioned earlier, cold weather triggers a period of dormancy for trees. Even ones that are not deciduous will reserve energy and nutrients that are usually allocated to leaves and branches. These resources get redirected into the tree roots instead. With a newly planted tree, this gives the root system a chance to become stronger and more established. It’s also easier for the tree to adjust in the new environment. The young tree is then better equipped to grow and thrive that following Spring.

To grow a successful tree, there are numerous factors to consider when planting. Branching Out Tree Service can determine the best tree species for your needs and determine the proper location to plant. Our company uses superior quality trees that are grown in the best local nurseries. Unlike trees found at big box stores, the trees we plant are accustomed to the soil and climate conditions here in the Sonoran Desert.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are rapidly approaching, but you still have time to spruce things up (pun intended) and enjoy a beautiful landscape with your family and friends this year! We would love to help with preparing your landscape and trees for the holidays. Our estimates are always FREE, click here to contact us schedule an appointment.