Seasonal Tree Care Tips for Middletown NJ Homeowners

Middletown experiences four distinct seasons, each bringing its own challenges and opportunities for tree care. Following a seasonal maintenance routine helps your landscape stay healthy, resilient and beautiful year‑round.

Spring: Inspect and Prune

After a cold winter, inspect trees for damage like broken limbs and frost cracks. Prune any dead, diseased or crossing branches while trees are still dormant or just beginning to leaf out. This is also a good time to fertilise if a soil test shows nutrient deficiencies. Mulch around the base of trees to conserve moisture and suppress weeds, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

Summer: Water and Monitor

Summer heat can stress trees, especially young or newly planted ones. Water deeply during dry spells, soaking the root zone once or twice a week rather than shallow daily watering. Watch for signs of pests like borers or aphids and treat promptly. Avoid heavy pruning in summer, as it can expose trees to sunscald and sap loss.

Fall: Prepare for Dormancy

As temperatures cool, give your trees a final deep watering to help them enter winter with adequate moisture. Rake up fallen leaves and diseased fruit to reduce overwintering pests and pathogens. Late fall is a good time to prune many species because cuts heal quickly and pests are less active. Wrap young trunks with tree guards to prevent deer rub and rodent damage.

Winter: Protect and Plan

Heavy snow and ice can break branches. Brush off accumulated snow with a broom but avoid shaking limbs, which can cause snapping. Protect evergreens from salt spray by creating physical barriers. Winter is an ideal time to schedule a tree risk evaluation with an arborist – the absence of leaves makes structural defects easier to spot. Use this quieter season to plan plantings and removals for spring.

For personalised advice tailored to your property, contact Tree Service Middletown NJ. Our certified arborists help homeowners in Middletown, Red Bank, Leonardo and beyond maintain vibrant, healthy trees through every season.