Fall Tree Care

Fall is an important time of year for your trees – especially when the weather has been dry like the last couple of years. Most of  the Lower Elkhorn NRD has been in some stage of a drought for the last two years, and it is taking its toll on the health of trees. To help them survive the winter, take some time now to water your young trees, fruit trees, and even large trees.

Slow water the trees by slowing running a hose at the base of the tree for several hours on large trees and less on smaller ones. Trees will benefit from watering on more than one side. Trees should be watered heavily now, and if we don’t see significant rain, again in mid-late October before a freeze. If the cold weather is delayed, watering in November (before the ground freezes) will also be needed. On newly planted trees, or on sandy ground, a watering may need to be added in between the previously mentioned waterings. If the winter is dry, plan on watering as soon as the frost is out of the ground.

By removing the stress of the drought this fall, the trees will be much better equipped to handle whatever else Mother Nature might throw at us. This should ensure winter survival and hardy trees next spring.

Do you have questions about trees? Contact Todd Steward, Natural Resources Technician

Want more information? Check out this article from UNL: Efficient and Effective Tree Watering