December 3, 2025
As winter settles in and temperatures start dipping, your trees quietly shift into dormancy and are somewhat fragile in this state. A few tree care measures now can help to reduce the likelihood of storm damage, pest issues, and stress that emerge in the spring and summer months. Whether you have mature shade trees, ornamentals, or shrubs, we can help you prepare for what nature has in store. Here’s a practical guide to help you transition into the winter months with confidence.
Before winter arrives, it’s recommended that you call on New Urban Forestry for a property assessment. We have six ISA Certified Arborists on staff that are well versed in identifying structural issues, health and pest problems in your trees. If problems do exist, our Arborists can provide recommendations that can help individuals prioritize and budget for their tree care needs.
Assessing your property for dead trees, problematic branches and structural defects are high on our Arborists’ checklist. These items are more likely to fail in the event of ice and snow accumulation. Removing dead trees, pruning and addressing defects before winter arrives reduces the likelihood of property damage and worst case injury .
Your trees, shrubs and plants can especially benefit from the natural source of nutrients that leaves provide. They also serve as insulation for roots and they’re well suited to maintain moisture that the trees need as well.
In the absence of sufficient rain in the summer and fall, watering your trees before the first freeze is important. Trees rely on stored moisture for improved insulation to help prevent damage by freezing. Water slowly within the drip line to encourage maximum absorption.
Some insects overwinter inside bark, soil, and leaf litter. Our Arborists can help identify signs of some infestations and recommend treatments in the spring and when temperatures and insect activity increases.
With an eye toward the future, let’s not forget that young trees need care too! Young trees can benefit from wrapping the trunk with a breathable material to prevent sunscald and frost cracks. Also, watering and mulching young trees is especially important prior to the winter months. Installing a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch not only helps to preserve the moisture level but it also helps to moderate temperature swings
As we all know, winter can be tough on trees, but the steps you take now can help to preserve their health for seasons to come. Give us a call today to set up an appointment with one of our highly skilled Certified Arborists to hear more about winter tree care measures. As always, life is better with trees and trees are better with us!
