December has rolled around once again, which means it’s time to prepare your trees for Texas’ unpredictable wintry weather. To help, we’ve provided five simple tips for winter tree care:

1. Pruning – If you decide to prune this winter to foster healthy spring growth, do so once your trees have entered dormancy (mid-to-late winter).
2. Mulching – To avoid moisture and temperature fluctuations, apply mulch around the base of your tree. Leave space between the mulch and the truck to keep pests at bay.
3. Bracing – Prepare for winter storms by bracing or cabling your trees’ main branches.
4. Salting – If you use rock salt to winterize sidewalks and walkways, be sure to keep it away from trees, as it can impede proper water and nutrient absorption.
5. Wrapping – To protect your tree from harsh winter conditions, you can wrap the truck with strips of burlap and secure them with twine.

There’s a sense of crispness in the air, the weather is steadily getting more pleasant and the ever-popular pumpkin spice products have made their way to coffee shops and supermarkets near you. Yes, fall has officially arrived!

Along with fall comes the mindset that this season marks the end of the planting and growing season. However, this point of view is false, for fall is actually the perfect time to plant trees for a number of reasons including:

Better weather conditions – The cooler air and adequate rainfall allow trees to establish their root systems before winter rolls around.
Better soil conditions – Soil is usually warmer and less damp in fall than in springtime.
Optimum planting environment – Tending to newly planted trees in the spring and summer can make you work up a sweat. Planting in fall provides a more pleasurable planting experience.

Take advantage of this optimum tree-planting time, and come out to Fannin Tree Farm to find the perfect tree to plant this fall!

The days are longer, and temperatures are higher, which means summer is officially here! Thanks to North Texas’ summer heat, new water-restriction policies have gone into effect around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. However, it is important to know that these restrictions don’t apply to slow-soaking methods that allow you to keep your trees adequately watered, such as: Gator Bags, hand watering, soaker hoses and zoned drip systems.

According to this area’s restrictions,”Watering trees with a hand-held hose, soaker hose or drip irrigation system for up to two hours daily” is allowed. To help guide your watering habits this summer, the tree experts at Fannin Tree Farm have compiled the following tips.

Summer 2014 Watering Tips

• It’s important to water newly planted trees at least three times a week by using one of the aforementioned slow-soaking methods. To relieve the effects of heat stress on hot, windy days, be sure to shower leaves, limbs and trunks. If you opt to use Gator Bags, be sure to fill them up every two to three days and remove them periodically to allow trunks to receive adequate airflow.
• As a general rule, newly planted trees should receive five gallons of water for every caliper inch, which is measured six inches above the ground. For example, if your tree is 4 inches in caliper, it needs 20 gallons of water at least three times a week.
• Avoid watering too frequently and shallowly. When watering a tree, be sure to do so deeply by using one of the slow-soaking methods.
• It’s a good practice to water trees during the coolest parts of the day, like morning and evening, when there is less chance for evaporation.

Take Caution

The above watering tips are simply guidelines; there is no one-size-fits-all watering schedule. Be sure to check the soil’s moisture levels before watering. If you use sprinkler systems, do not rely on them for properly watering your trees because they do not sufficiently address trees’ watering needs. Further, keep in mind other factors while watering like: cloud coverage, rain, soil type, temperature and shade. If you have any questions or concerns about summer watering, be sure to contact our office. We’d be glad to help you!

The results of Groundhog Day on February 2 reveled that we are in for another six weeks of winter, for Phil the Groundhog saw his shadow. For some, this news may come as a disappointment because, let’s face it, we Texans are not built for long, cold winters. With all the ice that has accumulated across North Texas this winter, who isn’t (at least a little) ready for springtime? But since we must endure at least six more weeks of winter, now is the perfect time to start pruning your trees to prepare them for new growth in the spring.

Pruning Advantages

As of right now, trees are in their most dormant states, which makes this time, up until early spring, the best time to prune your trees. Why take the time to prune your trees, you ask? Just as we maintain personal upkeep by regularly getting haircuts and trimming our nails, trees require a certain level of maintenance to keep them healthy and looking their best. By ridding them of unnecessary or damaged limbs, pruning helps strengthen and support trees’ structures and promotes long-term vitality. Aside from these advantages, pruning trees also helps:

• Ensure the appropriate distribution of sunlight.

• Prevent damage to necessary limbs.

• Guard against the spread of disease.

• Promote fast regrowth in the spring

Pruning Pointers

The overall goal of pruning trees is to promote healthy growth and keep the branches that help them develop and maintain their shapes in good condition. Since most trees dropped their leaves in late fall, take advantage of this time while you can see your trees in their entirety without any visual obstructions from leaves. When you begin pruning, start with ridding your trees of dead and/or diseased branches. Then clear overgrown and smaller branches. Be sure your clippers or garden shears are sharp before starting any pruning projects. This will minimize any crushing, bruising or tearing of branches. For the best results, cut branches at a 45-degree angle a quarter inch from buds. If you have any questions or concerns during your pruning efforts, do not hesitate to give the experts at Fannin Tree Farm a call. We’d be glad to assist you in any way we can.

Shade Trees

Plant shade trees to cool your home & conserve energy. Properly placed trees can reduce home energy consumption up to 15% by providing shade for roofs, wall, windows & air conditioners.

Shade Trees Can include:

 Shumard Red Oak

Bur Oak

 Live Oak

 Cedar Elm

Bald Cypress

Value Trees

Trees strengthen the maturity and marketability of your home by adding 15% – 20% to its value in most cases. Correct placement of trees allows you to celebrate your home’s architecture.

Value Trees Can Include:

Chinese Pistache

 Live Oak

 Shumard Red Oak

 Cedar Elm

 Autumn Blaze Maple

Bur Oak

 Lace Bark Elm

Majestic Trees

Plant majestic trees in your backyard that can be enjoyed for generations. What better way to honor a friend, a loved one or to commemorate a birth or marriage than to plant a tree?

Majestic Trees Can Include:

DD Blanchard Southern Magnolia

 Shumard Red Oak

 Live Oak

Chinese Pistache

Screening Trees

Plant trees to screen undesirable views and to provide a privacy buffer.

Screening Trees Can Include:

Eastern Red Cedar

DD Blanchard Southern Magnolia

 East Palatka Holly

Ornamental Trees

Plant ornamental trees for accent and beauty.

Ornamental Trees Can Include:

 Vitex

Crepe Myrtle

 Desert Willow

Little Gem Magnolia