With the cooler weather on the way, are your trees in good shape? You would be surprised which fall chores will see them through a Tennessee winter. And that large oak by the driveway, can you put it to the test of another autumn storm and be confident it will hold up?
We at Smoky Mountain Tree Service put our homeowners in the area to rights on such matters each season. A family concern since 2018, we have more than 20 years of industry experience among our staff to put to work on any job. Should you need an expert opinion on your trees, pick up the phone and talk to us at (865) 346-4490.
There is no better time of year to tend to your trees than the fall. The heat is gone, the ground is still easy to work with and the trees are putting their energy into the roots. In short, autumn is the window for the kind of work that ensures a sound spring. What follows are the tips we put forward most with those in West Knoxville, Halls, Maryville, Oak Ridge and the foothills.
Why it is important in East Tennessee
The region has its share of demands on a tree. You have the humidity of the Smoky Mountain foothills that is conducive to trunk rot, or the steep terrain of some properties where root stability is an issue. Then there is the matter of wind and ice and what they do to a Bradford pear or other quick-growing varieties.
These are the sort of problems that come to light or compound themselves in the fall. It is better to deal with them before the onset of winter storms than to be faced with a costly and hazardous cleanup.
An inspection when the weather changes
You do not need any fancy equipment for a thorough fall inspection, merely to walk the grounds and put in some careful observation. Check for any of these:
- Branches that are dead or hanging and could come down
- Splits in a major limb or the trunk
- Mushrooms or fungus at the base, an indication of rot
- Trees with a lean, particularly after a hard rain or on a slope
- Patches of bark missing or peeling
- Unhealthy foliage or leaves that have been shed ahead of schedule
Notice any of the above and an ISA-certified arborist should be called in for a once-over prior to the first ice.
Dealing with your leaves
A mat of wet leaves is not as innocuous as it seems; in our climate the moisture it holds against the lawn and roots is an invitation to fungus. Put in some raking or shred and compost them to speed things along. A little mulched leaf litter will feed the soil but a heavy pile is counterproductive.
Put down some mulch
To insulate from the temperature changes and retain moisture, a mulch ring around the tree is advisable. Do not make a “volcano” of it at the trunk though, piling it up against the bark is a sure way to get rot. An even ring a few inches clear of the trunk is the way to go.
Don’t forget to water
It is common for the watering to stop with the end of summer, yet trees require moisture as they head into winter. Give them a good deep watering in late fall while the ground is still open. Younger stock and recent plantings will appreciate it all the more.
Pruning with care
If a limb is dead or a hazard, by all means remove it. But we would leave any substantial pruning of healthy branches to the full dormancy of late winter. You run the risk of stressing the tree if you cut too much. When in doubt, a professional is worth the call.
Leave the rest to us
You can do some of the work, but not when it involves a tree near power lines, one that has been damaged by a storm or is on a steep incline. For that you want someone with the proper training and gear. We are fully licensed and insured at Smoky Mountain Tree Service and provide 24/7 emergency response. Our service area covers Knoxville and about an hour out, from Powell and Corryton to Lenoir City, Morristown and Pigeon Forge.
For a free estimate and some peace of mind going into the season, contact us at (865) 346-4490.