Autumn is a time for slow and careful attention in the garden. As the weather cools and the days begin to shorten, I find this to be the most pleasant time to spend outdoors. Don’t get me wrong, I love when winter gives way to spring. However, it’s the cooling off after summer that brings me the most joy, especially when it comes to gardening. 

When it comes to trees, fall is a time to slow down and redirect energy. During spring and summer, it’s the fruits and foliage that get most of the tree’s energy. Come fall, that attention reroutes its focus to the roots and reserves that will bring the tree through the winter. 

A tree that is healthy when it enters dormancy is likely to jump back into growth mode in spring. That means giving your trees a bit of extra care in the fall. By carefully inspecting them now, you can identify and treat any issues before dormancy. These preventative fall tree care steps can make a big difference in the overall health of your trees. 

Coco Coir, Castings & Thermometer Bundle

Coco Coir, Castings & Thermometer Bundle

Epic Organic Garden Straw

Epic Organic Garden Straw

Inspect Foliage and Canopy

Foliage tells you a lot about the health of the tree.

An important part of fall tree care is a thorough inspection of both the foliage and the canopy. As fall progresses and your tree prepares to drop its foliage, there are specific traits to look for. By identifying healthy and unhealthy foliage patterns, you can tell a lot about the overall health. 

Many deciduous trees naturally shed their leaves in the fall. The condition of the leaves and the pattern of shedding can tell you a lot about your tree’s health. You can identify diseases, pests, and nutrient balance by observing this important characteristic. 

In terms of leaf color, the changes should happen gradually, spreading evenly across the canopy. Early leaf drop, patchy coloring, and leaves affected by rust, mildew, or leaf spots indicate stress or infection. It’s best to remedy these issues now so that your tree will be free from pests and diseases in the new year. 

Another aspect of fall tree care is the examination of the canopy. You can perform this while the leaves are intact, but it’s also a good idea to take an assessment after the leaves drop. This is when the canopy will be most visible. 

A healthy canopy should have even branching, good density, and no major areas of dieback. Bare sections, large areas of dieback, and areas of leaf retention can all be the result of pests, diseases, and stress. Waterspouts can also be a sign of stress.

While your tree is bare, it’s a great time to clean things up in terms of the overall shape of the canopy. If you do this too early, it can encourage new growth, which will be more vulnerable to cold damage. Once it drops its leaves, you should be safe to make adjustments, or at least plan for pruning in late winter. 

Check Out the Trunk and Bark

Look for peeling or damaged bark.

Your tree’s trunk and bark are good indicators of its overall health. Inspecting them is an important part of overall fall tree care. Many pests, diseases, and structural issues are first visible in this area.

A healthy trunk should have firm, intact bark that is free from deep cracks. There are a few exceptions to this, as some trees have naturally deep, cracking bark. Cottonwood is an example of this. In these cases, look for uniformity. 

Excessive peeling on trees that don’t naturally have peeling bark is a bad sign. Oozing sap, cankers, wounds, and sun scald are other issues to look out for. Look for dark, sunken areas or any soft, foul-smelling spots, as well. 

Fall is a good time to inspect for insect damage, such as that left behind by borers. Look for tiny holes in the bark. This is an indication of infestation. 

Lichens and moss growing on the bark are not typically troublesome in small areas. However, heavy growth can mean that the canopy is too dense, lacking in airflow, or isn’t letting enough light through. 

If you’re concerned about sun scald over the window, you can protect the trunk in one of two ways. You can paint the trunk to protect the bark and ward off insects. You can also wrap the trunk for the same effect. 

Take Care of the Root and Soil Zone

Inspect the root area surrounding the tree, too.

Working our way down in fall tree care, you want to inspect the bottom of the tree and the soil area. Where the trunk meets the soil, look for signs of girdling roots. These are roots that encircle the trunk and can strangle it, causing nutrient and water deficiency. 

Look for mushrooms growing up from or around the base of the tree, which may indicate internal rot. Identify any larger cracks in the soil, as this can indicate shifting or instability in the roots. 

Inspect and Care for Branches

Trim damaged trees, but don’t prune too heavily.

You’ll have identified any areas of major canopy disruption already at this point. Now it’s time to identify smaller areas of concern, such as dead, diseased, or damaged branches. This type of care will leave you with a healthier tree overall.

While you don’t want to do any major pruning during fall tree care, it’s always a good idea to remove damaged wood. Right now is a good time, as it gives them time to heal before winter. 

Dead or dried-out branches should come off, as well as any broken or cracked branches. Crossing branches are another type that you should remove. These can rub against each other, weakening both branches. Always remove the thinner branch, or the one that most disrupts the naturally attractive shape of the tree. 

Look for signs of disease among your branches. If you find any cankers, oozing sap, or areas where a cluster of leaves hasn’t fallen, these are signs of disease.

Save any major structural pruning for late winter. For now, remove any branches that look like they could cause problems.

Take Care of Leftover Fruits

Pick up fruits to avoid attracting insects.

If you’re dealing with fruit trees, another care aspect to address is any fruits left over from the harvest season. Most of these are dry or shriveled, but they can contain fungal spores that pose a health risk to the tree. We often refer to these as ‘mummy fruits.’

Leftover fruits also make a hospitable space for insects to overwinter. Between the possibility of pest and that of disease, it’s important to clear away not only the fruits that are hanging on, but also those on the ground.

Even lying on the ground, they can harbor harmful insects and pathogens. These sometimes overwinter and re-infect the tree in spring. 

If you didn’t already do so at harvest time, clean up any fruits on the ground. Remove any that are still hanging on. Don’t add them to your compost pile, as you may end up infecting your compost with pests and diseases. 

Mulch and Compost

A thick layer of mulch has many benefits.

After you take care of all the other fall tree care tasks, there is one last thing you can do. This will go a long way toward protecting and feeding your tree. It contributes to overall health and a robust spring growing season. 

Spread compost around the base of the tree first. Add about one to two inches all the way around the trunk, and out to the dripline. This provides a slow release of nutrients throughout the winter and early spring. It improves the soil structure and promotes healthy microbial activity. 

On top of your compost, pile on a healthy helping of straw or mulch. This final care task goes a long way in terms of protecting the roots and the tree in general. Mulch helps to insulate the roots against the stress of freezing and thawing cycles. It also retains moisture in the soil and holds back any weeds.