Winter is often a season that has everyone neglecting their yards and their trees, but there are actually some things you should be doing to keep the outside landscaping looking beautiful and get ready for a stunning spring. Check out the winter tree care tips we’ve learned from our friends at Noah’s Park Tree Care!

The Benefits of Winter

Winter is actually a great time to spend some time taking care of your trees as it brings advantages like increased structural visibility, decreased stresses, decreased chances for pest infestation, and increased fruit production. With the shedding of a tree’s leaves, it’s much easier to look at the structure of the tree and gives you some insight into the health and the needs of the tree. Pruning is also much easier to take care of in the winter as trees are dormant and less likely to take on any stresses from the foliage loss.

Identifying a Dead Tree vs. a Dormant Tree

Are you wondering if you have a dead tree or a dormant tree on your hands? There are some things you can do to check!

• Do you see any signs of budding? – A dormant tree will still have signs of small leaf buds in the dead of winter. They’re just waiting for spring to bloom. You’ll want to check each branch as branches with no buds or buds that are dry and shriveled could be signs of a dead branch and a tree in trouble.
• Is your tree shedding its old bark and getting a new skin? – Just as leaves fall off and will grow back, tree bark does the same thing. Dormant trees will show signs of new bark, while a tree that is in trouble will show signs of shedding a layer but not replacing it. Be sure to also check for cracks in the trunk.
• What’s under your tree’s twigs? – Grab a knife and scratch off a spot on a twig on your tree. In a dormant tree, the twig should be moist and bright green, while a tree in trouble will show a brittle, brown layer. Try this on a few twigs around the tree to get a complete view of your tree’s overall health. Another test you can perform is to bend a few twigs. If they break and are crunchy, they’re dead branches.

If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and great team to care for your trees, contact Noah’s Park Tree Care at (775) 376-0917. They offer winter inspections to help you identify if your trees are healthy and how to ensure they grow strong come the spring!

If you’d like to stay up to date on what’s happening around Reno, follow our blog, and if you have questions about the Reno real estate market, contact the David Morris Group. We’re happy to be your helpful guide. Give us a call at (775) 828-3292.