As the seasons change in Nashville, the weather can become quite unpredictable. Fall is a time when leaves change color, but it can also be a time of intense storms, especially if La Niña develops. Protecting your trees and landscaping from these storms and winds is possible, as long as you know how to prepare. Here are some of our tips for storm prep this fall.
Fall Storm Tree Preparation
For young trees, high winds can pose big problems. Fall can bring major gusts, with the added risk of tornadoes later in the fall, so it’s important to be prepared for these types of weather. If you’ve recently transplanted trees in the last few years, you can do a few things to ensure that they have a good chance of surviving the seasonal changes between summer and fall.
Water your young trees deeply but infrequently; this helps them naturally develop stronger root systems. If you’ve already had your trees on a good watering schedule this summer, keep it up in the fall, paying attention to drought conditions to ensure that you aren’t overwatering. Too much water can damage roots or simply soften the soil, making the tree’s root system weaker. Stronger roots keep trees from being uprooted during windstorms, but saplings have the odds stacked against them.
Fortunately, there are other things you can do for young trees to protect them from storm damage. You likely have seen stakes planted around a tree, attached by rope or wire. Staking is a common form of tree protection that helps saplings grow straight and survive stormy weather. Staking provides supplemental support to a tree, giving it extra strength to stand up against damaging gusts from fall storms. The best stake method depends on the type of tree and its location, but generally, you should use three stakes to give it optimal support. It’s important to drive stakes into the ground at least a foot from the tree, avoiding damage to the rootball that’s underground. Triangulating the stakes around the tree helps provide it with the best support, while ensuring that you do not over-tighten the guiding wire, which gives the tree assistance without damaging it. Trees also need to flex and bend in the wind, as this is a natural way to strengthen their trunks as they develop. Giving them some space to move naturally while staking them is the best way to guarantee they thrive as they mature.
The best way to protect your trees is to give them a lot of attention and care year-round so they stay healthy and robust. While the summer and early fall aren’t the most optimal for tree pruning, you can still consult an arborist to give you an idea of your trees’ health and alert you to any problems. Pruning during this time of year can be risky, and actually make your trees more susceptible to damage from fall storms and the potential remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms. If a tree expert can properly inventory your trees, however, they may have other ways to help your trees weather the storms they may face this year. Nashville trees are no strangers to heavy winds, but that means they may have damaged limbs. Removing dead wood can be done in the fall, and when it’s properly and safely performed, tree trimming is possible all year round. Ensuring that any damage from recent summer storms is properly cleaned up and cleared away helps prevent disease and hazards posed by partially fallen branches. Work with local professionals like the folks at The Parke Company this fall to make sure your trees are ready for the fall and winter seasons.
Preparing Landscaping for Colder, Windier Weather
Hiring a reliable Nashville tree service is important, but it’s not the only thing you need to do this fall to ensure your property is ready for the changing weather. Trees aren’t the only aspect of a Nashville lawn that needs assistance when it comes to heavy winds and fall storms. Garden beds, shrubbery, and hardscape features are all at risk of wind damage this autumn.
Wrapping shrubbery and bushes is an effective way to protect them from damage caused by wind, cold, and even pests this winter. Generally, burlap is used, which helps to insulate the plant and keep moisture locked in. As winter leads to scarcer food for local wildlife (such as deer), they may find your garden to be a convenient food source. Wrapping keeps them from defoliating your garden and leaving you with dead landscaping come spring. Another way you can protect your landscaping from fall and winter storms is by replenishing mulch. Mulch can be washed away by heavy summer rainfall, so ensuring that your garden bed is properly mulched this fall is important. Mulch protects roots from wind erosion and insulates them from cold weather, while also locking in moisture and releasing it slowly for steady hydration during a plant’s dormant winter cycle.
Protect Your Other Outdoor Features
Once your plants are prepared for the changing seasons, you need to make sure that your non-plant lawn decor is ready for wind and cold. Some outdoor furniture or other decorations may not be heavy enough to withstand high winds. Consider taking some things into storage, either in your shed or garage for the fall and winter storms. Alternatively, you can use stakes to help secure lighter hardscapes and keep them from blowing away. Water features and irrigation systems should be winterized in preparation for the colder months, as we often experience cold snaps that could cause damage by freezing water in pipes or sprinkler heads. Follow proper winterization procedures to drain all of the water from anything that can be harmed by even the slightest risk of a freeze, as you’re much better safe than sorry when it comes to the unpredictable Nashville winters we’ve been having. As with all of these tips, many of these things are best left to the pros.
Parke Can Help as Things Cool Down
Don’t hesitate to reach out to The Parke Company and schedule a visit with a landscaper or arborist to guarantee you’re ready for the changing seasons. Give us a call today to make your appointment, before fall storm damage poses a problem for you.