(Des Moines, IA) — Fall in Iowa is a great time to work on your trees. It’s also a safe time for the tree to get trimmed.
Chip Murrow with the Iowa DNR. He says dormancy trimming is safe when most trees have lost their leaves.
This is especially true for oak trees, which can be at risk for oak wilt.
Seasonal change can also damage some young trees, especially those with thin bark.
He says wrapping a tree can prevent damage over the winter.
Mulch can also be helpful, but only when applied correctly.
The DNR says in a release that watering trees deeply and less frequently to encourage deep root growth and make them more resilient. Water during the early morning to minimize evaporation and freezing. It gives your trees more time to drink up.
