You may be asking yourself what to do to put your trees in order for an Ohio winter. Or perhaps there are dead branches overhead you have been putting off. And as for pruning or planting, you are not certain if the timing is right.

We at Blue Grass Tree & Lawn, LLC, see it as our job to put those questions to rest for homeowners in Central Ohio and ensure their trees are in good shape all year long. We are a local company, veteran-owned and operated, with service areas that include Reynoldsburg, Columbus, Westerville, Newark, Dublin and other communities in Franklin County. For any matter regarding your property, pick up the phone and call (740) 480-5187.

There is no better time of year than fall to tend to your trees. While the growing season comes to an end, the steps you take now will determine how well they stand up to the cold in the months to come. Here are some tips to put you on the right track.

Why you should care about tree maintenance in Ohio

An Ohio winter does not go easy on trees. Between the wind, ice and heavy snow, any branch that is diseased or weak is under duress. Should a tree give way in a storm, the result can be damage to your home or car, or even your neighbor’s.

The cooler weather is less taxing on the tree and with the leaves gone, one can more readily see what was obscured in the summer. It is a chance to nip problems in the bud before they turn into an emergency.

A pre-winter inspection

Make a tour of the property and have a good look at every tree. An expert is not required to spot the red flags. Check for:

• Branches overhanging the roof, power lines or driveway
• Any softness or mushrooms at the base of the tree
• Splits or cracks in the trunk and limbs
• Branches that are dead or hanging and liable to break with the weight of ice
• Roots that are damaged or heaved up
• Leaves that were poor quality this season or came down early

If you see these things, let a professional have a look. A few are cosmetic in nature but some are a hazard.

Pruning when it makes sense

With the leaves out of the way you can see the structure of a dormant tree, making fall and winter conducive to pruning. You can fortify the tree and lessen the chance of storm damage by taking out crossing, dead or diseased wood.

Then again, an ill-advised cut or too much of it will only set the tree back and make it susceptible to disease. That is where it pays to have a licensed and insured hand on the saw. Ours know how to do it with safety and health in mind.

Put away the leaves and debris

Leaves on the lawn are not just something to be done with. Left in a wet mass they will smother the grass and invite fungus and pests. Do some raking or mulch them to keep the yard in order and let the lawn get some air. Clear the base of the trees of any fallen branches to dissuade rodents and insects from making themselves at home there.

Water and mulch while you still can

Do not make the mistake of ceasing to water because the temperature has dropped; trees require moisture in the fall. A thorough watering before the ground is frozen will do the roots some good for the winter. Put down some mulch to insulate the roots against the elements and hold in moisture, though you want to avoid piling it on the trunk to prevent rot.

When to put in a call

You can do some of this work yourself, but for tall trees or large limbs near a power line, a trained crew is the safer option. In the event a storm puts a tree down after hours we are here with 24/7 emergency response.

We are open 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and are BBB Accredited. We provide free estimates so there are no surprises, and Hearth can have you pre-qualified for financing in two minutes.

Before the season is gone, make sure your trees are prepared for winter. Give us a ring at (740) 480-5187 to arrange an estimate and let Blue Grass Tree & Lawn, LLC put the proper care on your property.