Is This Warm Winter Bad For My Trees?
We have all been soaking up the 62 degree sunshine in Georgia the past few days. But it makes you wonder if this prolonged warm period affects your trees and plants. The drastic high to low shifts in temperature can bring about a big problem for your trees.
How does a warm winter affect my trees?
Our trees have yearly cycles, going dormant in the fall/winter time and awaiting the warmer weather to start budding out and blooming for spring. So if the weather is consistently warm for a period of time in winter, it will prompt your trees to start blooming. When the weather then shifts back to a cooler temperature, the buds on your trees can die off.
In addition to bud die off, there is a higher risk for injury to your trees in the changing weather. Your trees naturally will expand and contract as they freeze and thaw in winter. When this becomes and every other week occurrence of thawing and freezing, it can result in vertical cracking of the bark opening your trees up to decay, pests or fungus to enter.
What can I do?
Mulching the base of your trees provides a sort of barrier for the roots to keep them insulated and somewhat protected from the harsh conditions.
A healthy watering schedule can also help to reduce the risk of decline in your trees in winter.
For more tips or information on protecting your trees in winter time, click the link below to be connected with one of our ISA certified arborists now!