Thursday, August 27, 2015

Autumn Arborist Service In Florida

Autumn is a great time to fertilize your trees. The primary goal of fall fertilization is to promote healthy root growth. Our plant health technicians can assess your property's needs and devise the right fertilization plan for you. Even after the leaves have fallen from your trees, the roots will continue to grow and utilize the applied fertilizer until soil temperatures have dropped below 40°F, often well into November or December here in Florida.

Late in the summer many diseased trees began prematurely dropping leaves. Diseased leaves on the ground as well as infected branches on the tree are a call to action. Bacteria and fungi (plant pathogens) will survive on branches and fallen twigs as well as leaves throughout the winter. Debris, if left till spring, will be a pathogen source for 2016.
This year, it is especially important to clean your beds and lawns of fallen leaves and associated debris. This does not mean that you have to pick up the leaves when they fall; these leaves will be suitable for composting. However it is important that your leaves don’t stick around until next spring.

Once your landscape is bare of leaves, pruning needs will be much more evident. These needs include dead branches, broken branches as well as those weakened by plant pathogens. Fall is the very best time to prune. Why? One word; energy. Trees and shrubs have the most stored-up energy in the cambium than any other time of the year. Stored energy is important as this is the tree’s defense against decay entering pruning wounds. Freshly cut wood won’t attract bark beetles and borers that come to infest and spread additional diseases; as these wood boring insects have already become dormant for the winter season.

Make time now to clean up your beds and lawn before the winter cold sets in. For large trees or projects beyond your expertise, now is the time to schedule work with your tree care company (arborist). Book work now and it can be completed anytime during the fall and winter. Fall deep root fertilization allows tree and shrub roots to receive the nutrients and apply it to functions such as root development and disease resistance, rather than promoting new growth. Furthermore, the excess nutrients are stored in the roots and are immediately available for new spring growth.

It is important to implement a fertilization program not only for growth purposes, but for the overall health and stamina of your trees and shrubs. If deep root fertilization is not already a part of your routine program; we would be happy to discuss the benefits in detail with you and create a customized fertilization plan for your landscape.