Yearly Tree Care Guide
A season-by-season guide for tree owners.
Use this guide to help care for and maintain the trees you have planted on a yearly, seasonal and monthly basis to ensure they grow and live a long, healthy life.
Winter & Spring
January – April
- After frost season has ended, fix any down, damaged, or leaning trees, tree shelters, and stakes. Redrive stakes into ground and replace broken or rotten stakes, and secure zip ties.
- Check and reseat tree shelters to ensure the bottoms are 1 to 2 inches below the ground surface.
- Order trees, tree shelters, and stakes for spring replanting. Order early!
March – May
- Replant trees/shrubs and install or reuse tree shelters if you did not replant last fall.
April – June
- Mark and tally any missing or obviously dead trees for future replanting in fall or the following spring.
- Mow as needed between trees.
- Remove weeds around the perimeter of the seedling that may be competing for nutrients.
- Inspect for toxic and invasive weeds, and remove/control where appropriate.
Summer & Fall
July – August
- Control toxic and invasive weeds.
September – October
- Fix any down, damaged, or leaning trees, tree shelters, and stakes. Redrive stakes into ground and replace broken or rotten stakes, and secure zip ties.
- Check and reseat tree shelters to ensure the bottoms are 1 to 2 inches below the ground surface.
- Inspect for toxic and invasive weeds, and remove/control where appropriate.
- Mark and tally any missing or obviously dead trees for future replanting (fall or following spring).
- Order trees, tree shelters, and stakes for fall replanting. Order early!
October – November
- Replant trees/shrubs and install or reuse tree shelters if you did not replant the previous spring.
Mulching & Pruning
- Mulch out the to the drip line, which is directly below the canopy of the tree.
- Don’t mulch up to the tree, leave a few inches of space around the trunk exposed and allow it to breathe.
- Mulch only 2 to 3 inches deep.
- Winter is the best time to prune your trees. Avoid pruning during the growing season.