After slumbering through snowstorms, rain showers and all other elements Mother Nature brought during wintertime; trees wake up once springtime kicks into full gear. It’s not an instant awakening. It’s more like when you try getting up for work and try to convince yourself to stay in bed five more minutes before eventually getting up. But once consistently warm temperatures arrive, trees bloom and caring for them becomes so much easier. Here are a few things to take notice of trees in springtime.
When Trees Will Start Blooming
Traditionally in the Midwest, tree blooms will take place around mid-April, when warm temperatures start to appear consistently. By that time, you should notice your tree responding to the sunshine and humidity, as well as light duration. Light duration is key as the longer days and shorter nights that accompany spring and summer months allows for longer sun exposure, allowing for more growth. Leaves open, using sunlight, chlorophyll and carbon dioxide to create carbohydrates which provides food for trees, allowing for buds to emerge.
How to Tell if Your Tree Has Awoken
You can tell how your tree has responded to temperature changes if it has started to grow new leaves or has flowers. Your tree’s long period of dormancy during wintertime allows it to grow naturally due to its ability to avoid unfavorable conditions. Following extended exposure to low temperatures, physiological responses in trees improve as the weather improves, making for a greater balance of enzymes and hormones that promote growth.
Not all trees bloom automatically when spring is in full flow. For example, birch trees and willows may bloom early to lengthen their food production time before summer time. With oaks and elms, their bud breaks take a bit longer to happen in case spring temperatures are lower than normal come March and April. Just make sure to check your tree buds early in springtime. If they’re green on the inside, they’re alive and kicking. If buds are black or non-existent, then it’s time to worry.
What to Do to Maintain Them?
Inspect your tree for any damage or diseased branches and make sure it’s in the best condition possible. If you find any damaged branches, prune them or cable them to reduce stress damage from high winds as it will get windy during springtime.
Make sure to mulch the tree to conserve as much soil moisture as possible and keep weeds from breaking out. Furthermore, before it gets too warm in spring, apply a slow-release fertilizer to replace nutrients successfully while improving resistance to damage from insects, diseases, and storms.
Learn more about trees and how to maintain them regardless of the season with Jackson Tree Service, providing all your needs to help keep your tree looking healthy and beautiful. Contact us today! for a quote on tree trimming, tree removal, or if you’re simply looking for more info on tree maintenance.