Winter is around the corner. Matter of fact, in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, you’ve already seen some snowflakes in your backyards. That means that it’s time to put away the mower and the leaf blower. But it’s not time to ignore your trees and shrubs.  In this article, we'll take a look at the essential tips to prune and protect your trees this winter.

You Don't Have to Get Crazy...

Sure, you’re not going to do a full prune job on them, but you do need to give your trees and shrubs a brush up. A brush up entails taking down dead, diseased, and low-hanging limbs.

A Perfect Time for Fall Dormant Oil

While you’re brushing up your trees and shrubs for the winter months, you can also apply some natural or organic horticultural oil to your trees and shrubs to protect them from an insect invasion. This treatment is a mixture of oils that when applied prevents insects from preparing to hibernate in your trees and shrubs over the winter. Additionally, a Deep Root Feeding can also provide much needed nutrients for the tree to store over winter.

Pretty powerful Pruning Perks...

Here are some other perks for trees and shrubs when they’re pruned and protected in late fall:

• A pick me up prune job will allow you to control the look of your trees and shrubs in the spring and summer
• It will also get rid of some hibernating bugs and diseases that might’ve entered through dead limbs
• Natural oils work to smother insects and stop the spread of disease that some insects carry to plants
• There are less residual effects on the good insects when you use a natural oil on your woody plants
• Natural oils don’t harm plants or the environment
• Some trees react to petroleum-based oils. Petroleum is the base for many horticultural oils. However, there are now natural and organic horticultural oils that are plant-based and don’t create harmful reactions in trees.
• The trees that are sensitive to petroleum-based horticultural oils include maples, hickories, black walnut, and redbud trees. Conifers, such as junipers, cedars, spruces, and Douglas firs are also sensitive to some petroleum-based horticultural oils. Many times, natural and organic horticultural oils don’t produce the same reaction in these sensitive trees like petroleum-based ones.

The snow may be blowing outside, but you still need to take care of your Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio trees and shrubs. In between snow blowing the driveway, make sure that you prune and protect your trees and shrubs with light pruning and a dose of natural, organic horticultural oil. Your trees and shrubs will thank you.

Looking for More Information on Getting Your Landscaping Ready For Winter?

Never fear, Weed Pro has the perfect Fall Lawn & Landscape Guide that will have your landscaping ready by the time the snow flies! This guide is chock-full of great information on how to prepare your lawn, trees and shrubs for their winter slumber! Get your free copy now by clicking on the link below!

About Wendy:
Wendy Komancheck is an accomplished Freelance Writer for Trade Magazines, Websites, and Local Businesses, specializing in horticultural articles. Check out Wendy's bio and website by Clicking Here. Wendy's Google+ Page