The following are three things that you - or your tree care expert - can do for your ornamental trees each autumn.

1. Deep Root Fertilization

Without the right nutrients, your ornamental trees won't have such plentiful blooms, and their leaves may begin turning yellow or becoming sparse.

Applying fertilizer to the ground surface around the tree is of minimal help. The fertilizer tends to remain in the top few inches of soil - especially in urban areas, where the soil is compacted. The nutrients are taken up by grass and weeds before they can trickle down deep enough to be useful to the tree.

To adequately fertilize your tree, you need to apply the fertilizer to the deeper layers of soil. A certified arborist can perform a service called deep root fertilizing to inject nutrients directly into the trees' root zone. First, they establish the tree's drip line, which is the ring directly beneath the edge of the tree's canopy. Then, they make several deep injections into the soil within this drip line.

Deep root fertilization encourages your trees to grow stronger, more abundant roots, making them more capable of obtaining water and nutrients in the future. It also increases resistance to pests and diseases, while encouraging healthy flowering the next season. Fall is the perfect time to deep root fertilize your trees since it ensures the trees have the nutrients they need as soon as spring returns.

2. Mulching

Mulch is often seen as an aesthetic addition to a landscape. However, applying mulch around your ornamental trees offers a few health benefits too:

Mulch slowly breaks down to add additional nutrients to the soil.

Mulch keeps weeds from growing around the tree, while leaves more water and nutrients for your tree to use. Mulch locks moisture into the soil so your tree does not suffer during periods of drought.

Fall is the perfect time to apply mulch since the mulch can then act as an insulator, protecting your tree's roots from the onset of cold weather. Leave a few inches of space on all sides of the trunk to prevent rot, and then spread a three-inch layer of mulch in a circle that's about as wide as your tree's canopy. Wood chips, bark, and pine needles are all great mulch choices.

3. Trimming

Early fall is not a smart time to trim your trees because it may stimulate them to grow - and then the new growth will be prone to damage once winter comes. If you wait until late fall when the tree has lost all of its leaves, however, you can have the tree trimmed with no worry of damage.

Trimming your tree helps encourage more, new vibrant growth in the spring. You also ensure the branches don't grow too heavy, which reduces the risk of broken and cracked branches under the weight of winter snow and ice.

Since trimming ornamental trees is a rather precise science, you're best off hiring a tree care company to perform this service. Removing too many or the wrong branches can do more harm than good.

By taking the time to pamper your ornamental trees this fall, you can ensure they look their best next spring and summer. Contact Brown's Tree Service, LLC to make an appointment for deep root fertilization, trimming, and more.