Urban Tree Care Calendar
WINTER
December
- Cut holly for holiday decorations
- Make holiday decorations from trees and shrubs in the yard
- Inspect and prune trees for hazards and defects
- Keep bird feeders well stocked and provide ice free source of water
January
- Inspect ice storm damaged trees
- Schedule inspection of ornamentals and shrubs for scale insects
- Prune late summer blooming trees, shrubs and vines
- Remove heavy snow from trees and shrubs
- General dormant safety pruning, reducing size of tall trees that resist wind and threaten to uproot
- Reduce weight on end-heavy limbs, arching laterals subject to breaking
- Pine trees may exhibit “rust gall” which should be pruned out so as not to spread
- Roof shoveling and ice dam removal
- Take advantage of frozen ground for tree removal
February
- Inspect ice storm damaged trees
- Prune fruit trees to enhance fruit production
- Apply a follow-up antidesiccant
- Schedule inspection of your tree cables
- Assess landscape with your arborist
- Continue safety pruning
- Feed the birds
SPRING
March
- General pruning and thinning of vigorous growing trees
- Remove all protective coverings and winter mulch
- Schedule spring fertilization for your trees and shrubs
- Remove trees causing over-crowding to encourage beneficial landscape tree growth
- Recommended time for transplanting/relocating trees and shrubs with the least amount of negative impact to root systems
- Awareness to insects that may start early flight
- Early dormant spraying (fruit tree, etc.) may be needed
- Begin annual fertilizing; broadcast dry granules 10-10-10 over majority of landscape
April
- Spray EPA approved materials to control disease and damaging insect populations
- Aesthetic pruning of smaller ornamental trees
- Focus on landscape continuity, design, simplicity, etc
- Schedule your spring fertilization
- Plant hearty vegetables and bare root stock as soon as soil is workable
- Complete fruit tree pruning and tree maintenance
- Perform rejuvenation pruning on summer flowering shrubs
- Inspect hemlocks, pines, spruces and firs for cool season mites
- Get lawn mower ready
May
- Inspect trees for diseases and treat as needed
- Deep root feeding is necessary for low vitality trees, striving for increased quality
- General pruning
- Protect your family from Lyme disease with an integrated tick program
- Plant new perennials and summer bulbs
- Divide mums and other late bloomers
- Plant annuals after last frost
SUMMER
June
- Inspect and treat for defoliating caterpillars
- General pruning
- Deterrent to rodents and insects bridging to home by side trimming trees away from buildings, lamp posts, walkway and driveways
- Treat elm trees for Dutch Elm Disease
- Cover ripening berries with netting to protect from birds
- Divide spring bulbs that are crowding
- Replant herb garden with new seedlings
- Keep a close watch for pests and disease
July
- Fertilize lawn and treat for white grubs.
- Water lawn and landscaped plants as needed. Infrequent deep watering is better than frequent light watering.
- Treat azaleas, rhododendrons, and cotoneaster for lace bugs.
- Inspect and treat all landscape plants for warm season mites.
- Inspect and treat trees for defoliating caterpillars.
- Inspect and treat for adult Japanese beetles and aphids on all landscaped plants.
- Remove dead trees.
- Prune deadwood from trees; prune shrubs.
- Sit back and enjoy the view.
August
- Perform late summer fertilizer application to lawn.
- Aerate lawns to improve nutrition uptake, relieve compaction and improve water infiltration.
- Re-seed bare areas in lawn and over-seed thin areas, inspect and treat for surface insects.
- Water lawn and landscaped plants as needed. Infrequent deep watering is better than frequent light watering.
- Inspect lawn and treat for crabgrass.
- Treat lilacs, dogwoods, various annuals, and perennials for powdery mildew.
- Treat landscaped plants for mites, lace bugs and Japanese beetles.
- Prune trees for dead wood.
- A few more weeks and the kids are back at school!
FALL
September
- Apply fall fertilizer application to lawn.
- Fertilize trees and landscaped plants.
- Consider applications to control broadleaf weeds in the lawn.
- Monitor and treat for cool season mites and scale insects on pines, hemlocks, spruces and firs.
- Treat landscape for ticks.
- Begin fall planting of new trees and shrubs.
- Begin fall pruning of shrubs.
- Prune trees and evaluate for potential hazards
- Watch as the Ash leaves turn purple and then gold.
- Look forward to those clear, brisk fall days.
October
- Start planning winter work!
- Recycle disease-free plant material into compost
- Plant new trees and shrubs or transplant existing ones
- Dethatch lawn if needed
- Apply lime to lawns
- Aerate lawns to improve water and nutrient uptake and to relieve soil compaction
- Apply light application of fertilizer to trees and shrubs
- Winterize irrigation systems
- Plant spring flowering bulbs
November
- Cut grass short to prepare for winter
- Winterize lawn mower
- Place guards on small trees and shrubs to help prevent rabbit and rodent winter browsing
- Apply antidesiccant to broadleaf evergreens
- Apply deer and rabbit repellant
