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AUTUMN TREE MAINTENANCE If you have trees in your yard, now is the time to prepare them for the winter months so they’re able to repair over the winter and come back healthier in the spring. First, be sure to pick up any fallen fruit or leaves that fall from the tree. Leaving them to rot can damage the ground and soil under the tree and thus affect the nutrients the roots are able to soak up. Instead gather the leaves and fruit and compost them or turn them into mulch to provide a thin layer of nutritious ground cover that will help the roots of the tree instead of hinder them. If adding mulch isn’t an option, consider using a slow release fall fertilizer to keep the tree thriving until spring. Autumn is also the perfect time to prune your trees. As they go dormant for the winter, they will put their energy into root development instead of leaf production. Be sure to remove dead, overgrown and potentially dangerous branches before the first frost coats the ground. Try not to leave too much of a stump by cutting branches as close to the trunk as possible. Also, while you’re up close to the tree inspect it for any pests or disease that may have taken hold over the summer and treat as needed. Finally, you’ll want to ensure you keep watering your trees on a regular basis so they have enough water stored up to last through the freezing months. With these few maintenance tips, your trees should come back to life in the spring better than ever and grow for many years to come. Bonus tip: If you don’t have any trees, but want to add one or two to your yard, fall is the best time of year to plant!

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