Winter prep for trees

treeguru wannabe

Few questions.

First, I live in west-central, WI. I want to prepare my trees for the winter. The leaves are already turning. Is it OK for me to water them still this time of year? We have been VERY dry the last two months. Maybe a half to three-quarters of an inch. I wasn't sure if watering them when they are going downhill and 'hibernating' for the winter was good or not..but like I said, the lack of moisture that we have received has worried me.

Also, talking about watering....If it is OK for me to water, can I do it on days when the temps will be getting down to freezing, or should I hold off for more reasonable low temperatures?

Fertilizing--Is it too late for me to put the fertilizer spikes in the ground? They say to do it spring and fall, and I have done this in the past, but every time before I have done it before the leaves have turned.

Last question, and this is off-topic from my original. I have two blue spruce that I planted this spring. They are about 5 footers. Overall, we have had an above-average summer with rainfall in the beginning of the summer, but below average the last part. I have watered them once since I planted them (with a watering spike). I also put a fertilizer spike in this spring after planting them. Now, they have both died. Is there something that I should have done or did do that I shouldn't have done to keep this from happening? Also, is it OK for me to plant new trees in the same spot? These are planted along a line on our west boundary so I want to keep the line straight.

I appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks much!

Brent Ferris

It is ok to water until freeze up - it rains after all, and you want the roots as healthy as possible for the winter- roots grow in the winter as long as there is enough snow cover. And fertilizing is also ok - same reason, but I would use organic fertilizers -- not the spikes -- to enhance the microfloral and microfaunal soil populations enhancing root health and top tree health and after the first frost (which you may have had?). The leaves will turn based on ambient temperature - what kind of trees are they?

For the Colorado Blue Spruce -- need pics to see the site and the other trees. Generally it is best not to plant a new tree in the same hole - if a fungal attack caused the first ones to die, it will also kill new trees. And hopefully this line of trees is not all the same species. Diversity is far better for survival than aesthetics.

__________________
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If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
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treeguru wannabe

ok, so even if it's not going to be 'freezing/frost' type weather every night, it's ok for me to water during the day when it's going to get down to 32 degrees or lower that night? i just didn't know if i could freeze the roots or have something else happen. we had our first frost a few weeks ago. it's gotten down to the 30s maybe a handful of times since then...

where can i get that organic fertilizers? these trees are all about 8 or 9 feet right now. mixture of bur oaks, silver maples, autumn blaze maples, and elms. then i have a line of blue spruce on the property boundary. i have three below the two that died previous that are doing very well...they were planted last spring (2010). the only reason i ask about planting the new blue spruce in the same spot is because they are all in a line and evenly spaced apart....

i'll take some pics and attach them here today hopefully, if not, sometime early this week. they are all brown.

Brent Ferris

You can water until the ground freezes - that is what rain does, but once a week should be fine - not every day.

The roots-- if there is insufficient snow cover --will "freeze" on their own. As long as your trees can tolerate the zone you are in there should be no problems. You are likely in Zone 3, and Elm, Silver Maple, prob Bur Oak, and Autumn Blaze can withstand the climate, which also means the roots have the inherent ability to withstand freezing temperatures . As long as the roots are not encased in ice, there should be no problems. And that would require a lot of water.

The organic fertilizers should be available at good plant nurseries. You may have to ask for them-- might be in a corner.

If the Blue Spruce died from drought, or excess water accumulation, or suffocation or poor stock then planting in the same hole might be ok. However, in our area there is a disease that attacks pines, firs, hemlocks, douglas-firs, and spruce, called Cytospora. Colorado Spruce, are quite susceptible, especially the blue varieties. And if your two spruce died from an infection of Cytospora, or another fungal disease planting new spruce in the same holes will doom them to death.

And, as I said in the first post, a row of trees all the same species looks great, grows about the same, adds real aesthetics to the property. BUT, insects and disease love a whole bunch of the same species close together - more food for less work. And once one tree is infected, the others are likely to follow really soon, and then there are no trees, Diversity -- that is, a variety of species that ensures longer survival of any one species -- is the key.
My advice, IMHO would be to plant 2 or at the most 3 Colorado Spruce, and intersperse with hardwoods to mitigate pest problems. It may not have the same punch, but no trees or all dead trees will also have negative punch. THe choice is yours. If you care about the trees, plant diverse species.

__________________
My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports
If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too !
We do great jobs, even in small yards.

Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered)