Do you have young trees that you planted this year, and are looking to ensure their survival this winter? By taking a few precautionary measures, your young trees will continue to grow and make it through the cold months. However, it is imperative you take on these measures in this first year they have been planted. Learn about the preparation tasks you will need to do this fall, why you need to wrap your young trees, and the importance of watering properly and providing young trees with the essential nutrients they need.

Tips for Preparation in the Fall

One of the first agenda items for your young trees is to mulch. Remove all existing mulch, as well as debris in the area. Next, ensure your mulch is of an organic source that will provide your tree with nutrients. This can include compost, pine needles, bark mulch, straw, or wood chips. You can talk to the experienced staff at American Arbor Care to find the solution best for your young tree. Two to four inches of mulch is needed, and it’s important to leave the circumference around the base open. If your tree has any small or dying branches, prune them, as ice and snow can weigh them down, causing them to break. Last, rake any leaves that have fallen and keep the area clear. Review the Colorado State University Extension’s care of recently planted trees for more care tips.

Wrapping

Winters are tough for plants and trees, especially to young, newly planted trees. Sun scalding can take place when the winter sun heats up the tree, but then later when there is cloud cover, a large temperature drop occurs. This can kill parts of the tree, making it difficult to survive the winter. The best way to avoid this is to wrap the trunk of your young trees. Wrapping them will keep them at a consistent temperature and reflect the sunlight. You should wrap the base of the tree in late fall before the winter temperatures set in. Do this for at least a couple years until the tree matures. You can work with our arborists to find the best material to wrap your young trees.

Watering and Nutrients

Ensuring your young trees have plenty of water before winter is key. If you are unsure of how much water your tree needs, monitor the soil to see if it is too damp, dry, or just right. Over or under watering can be detrimental. Generally a good rule of thumb is to slowly soak the roots to a depth of about 12 inches – a good ratop to remember is to use 5-10 gallons per diameter inch of the tree’s trunk. Next, make sure you fertilize the tree to help strengthen its roots. Apply the fertilizer into the soil and aerate the area by perforating the soil to allow air to flow throughout. Starting your deep root fertilization for landscaping in Denver will help keep your young trees healthy in the winter.

To help you ensure the health of your young trees this winter, American Arbor Care has a team of expert arborists to help. We will assess your situation and provide you with the materials needed. Call us today at 303-639-8584 to get started.

Are you looking for ways to spruce up your outdoor areas? There are many different ways you can enhance your backyard landscaping in Denver. In addition, there are many types of ways to incorporate entertaining spaces to make your space even more livable. By making even small investments in your home and surroundings, you can create long term gains in the overall value of your property.

Learn about the different types of outdoor furniture to incorporate in your space, backyard activity ideas, and best landscaping upgrades to make:

Types of Outdoor Furniture

When considering adding outdoor furniture, a great place to start is to ask yourself what look and feel is important to you. It is also critical to consider what type of functionality you will need with new outdoor furniture. For many, a dining area with an umbrella to shade yourself from the sun is a great investment. You can find tables that seat anywhere from four to eight chairs. For the winter months, consider investing in some cozy chairs, blankets, and a firepit for all-weather gatherings. 

Host large gatherings often? Consider adding a few tables for a sit-down meal. You can even add in a picnic table which is of course, great for children. If you will spend more time resting and relaxing in your backyard, add couches, chaises, and lounge chairs. High-tech shades or Pergolas are also an option, that you can roll backwards or forwards to block the sun or provide cover. To get ideas for styles, review Better Homes and Garden’s patio furniture buying guide.

Backyard Activities

With Denver’s spectacular weather throughout the year, you will be able to take advantage of many sunny days to enjoy backyard activities. In addition, with a fire pit, you can enjoy the cool evenings all year long. Depending on the neighborhood you live in (homeowner’s associations), you can install an in-ground pool. If a pool is too much maintenance, don’t worry, there are other great activities to choose from and incorporate. Purchase a corn hole set that you can bring out to have fun with family and friends. Try your hand at bocce ball, which is a game that can be enjoyed by many, and is quite the leisurely pastime. For other lounging ideas, consider adding a hammock that you can relax in while others play games.

Landscaping Upgrades

If you will use your backyard for activity and lounging purposes, you can still incorporate landscaping to liven up the space. Add garden beds along the side of your home with flowers and shrubs that add a pop of color. If you have a large backyard on a sloped surface, you can add a tiered arrangement that will help to separate plants.  Water features such as waterfalls, ponds, and even pondless water features can add a tranquil element to your landscapes overall atmosphere.  Through this, you can add a retention wall which will aid in the drainage of water. You can also use shrubs and flower gardens as a way to direct people to various areas in your backyard, or even provide sitting areas. If you are new to the idea of updating your backyard, be sure you begin your landscaping with these ideas from your tree service company.

To help you create the perfect backyard oasis, contact American Arbor Care. Whether you have your own ideas or need assistance coming up with a creative concept, we are here to find the perfect trees, plants, flowers, and shrubs that will work in your space. Contact American Arbor Care in Denver, CO today at 303-639-8584 today to get started.

Winter is coming, but you might have some final landscaping tasks that you should get done as we enter the colder months.Common questions often arise, like – is it okay to plant in the fall? Is it better to wait? Many homeowners ask themselves these questions, and we can help answer them for you. You are already one step ahead by doing your research of your local tree service company so you do not put time and energy into things that will not make it through the season.

Learn about planting in the fall, landscaping do’s, and landscaping don’ts as you prepare for the cold season:

Planting in the Fall

Many homeowners wonder if they can expand their gardens and landscaping by planting in the fall. Is it a good idea? Can you plant in the fall?

The answer is yes! Fall can actually be a great time to plant.

The weather is not as warm and the soil has a great environment to encourage growth. The key is making sure you plant a little over five weeks before the season’s first major frost hits. So, if you are planting food, check the harvest schedule to see how long it will take to root, and if it will be before your area is set to get their first hard frost.

For plants, you will want to do something similar. Look to see how long it will take to grow and do the math. This is something a local tree and landscaping company can assist with to ensure you are choosing the right plants, flowers, food, trees, and more. Fall-planted bulbs and corms are some of the best items you can plant in the fall.

Landscaping Dos

To aid in planting and to help your lawn prepare for the winter, you will need to aerate it. This is the process of pulling 2-3″ plugs out of the turf grass areas increasing oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, while also reducing the thatch layer.  We recommend aerations be completed at least once annually.

Fall is also time to blow out your sprinklers once you know you will no longer be watering your lawn for the season. As the temperatures get cooler, and depending on rain in the area, your grass will not need as much water as it did in the summer. However, continue to water lawns and landscaping until late fall. Be sure to review additional fall watering and winterization tips for your Denver landscaping for fall to ensure you know how to care for your space.  During dry periods be sure to check your landscaping and turf areas for dryness.  Spider mites enjoy our warm dry periods over the winter months and can cause severe damage to turf areas.  Our drying winter winds can lead to tree, shrub, and turfgrass desiccation.

Landscaping Don’ts

The biggest landscaping “don’t” is not doing your research before making a decision to plant. You need to know what conditions the plant needs and set a timeline. While many trees, plants, shrubs, etc., can be planted in the fall, it might not be a great idea for some.

If you are unsure or have concerns, talk to a professional landscaping company you can trust. For your lawn, many continue to mow on the same setting as they did in the summer. Instead, you will need to mow your lawn with a higher blade setting. This will allow the ground to keep in more moisture.

For all of your fall planting needs, American Arbor Care can help. Our team of certified and professional arborists will help you invest your dollars in the right areas. Contact us today at 303-639-8584 to discuss your fall planting plans.