Spring Prep: Steps You Can Take Now to Help Trees Thrive

Since most of Central Texas is predicted to stay in drought through the spring and summer of this year, we wanted to let you know about a few easy steps you can take now during late winter and early spring to prepare your trees and property for the hot months ahead. Three of the most impactful actions you can ask your tree care professional about are mulching properly, establishing a smart watering strategy, and scheduling tree inspections. A little preparation now can make a big difference in how well your trees handle spring weather, and the summer heat.

Mulching: Simple, Effective, Often Overlooked

Mulch is one of the easiest ways to support tree health, yet it’s often applied incorrectly or forgotten altogether. A proper mulch layer helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, reduce competition from grass and weeds, and protect roots from compaction.

When applying mulch, a tree care professional should:

• Apply 2–4 inches of organic mulch

• Keep mulch several inches away from the trunk (absolutely no mulch volcanoes)

• Extend mulch out toward the drip line when possible

  
  

Mulching now helps trees transition smoothly into spring growth and prepares them for warmer, drier conditions ahead. Mulching also has the added benefit of protecting roots from cold snaps- which is exactly the double sided protection we're looking for in late winter and early spring. Here at Wimberley Tree Service, we are always happy to mulch on site for you! If you have any dead trees to remove, or limbs that need trimmed, let us know during your estimate that you would like us to mulch them for you. We love repurposing debris into something beneficial for your living trees.

Watering Strategy: Planning Before Trees Are Stressed

Trees benefit most from deep, infrequent waterings that encourage deep root growth rather than shallow surface roots. Creating strong and healthy roots ahead of summer are going to allow trees to seek deep moisture during drought, and are also going to help prevent tree failure during times of physical stress, like high winds or ice storms.

Late winter and early spring are a great time to:

• Check irrigation systems for leaks or poor coverage

• Adjust schedules based on rainfall and soil moisture

• Make sure watering is reaching the root zone, not just the surface

  
  

The frequency and duration of your watering is going to vary based on your soil conditions and stress factors. Generally, slow drip watering is the best approach to ensure water does not run off, and is instead able to penetrate deep enough into the soil to encourage roots to grow downward.

Inspections: Less Foliage Means Better Visibility

Many homeowners assume tree inspections are best done in spring or summer, but winter is often the ideal time to evaluate tree structure and overall condition. With leaves gone or reduced, it’s much easier to see:

• Small cracks

• Weak branch unions,

• Early signs of decay

• Root issues

If not addressed, all of these conditions can mean limb or total tree failure later down the road. Inspections give us the opportunity to evaluate where the tree is at in terms of handling other stressors, like drought. Keeping up with good trimming maintenance will make it easier for trees to handle events like high winds or unexpected ice storms in the spring. In the summer, it will also keep a good balance of shade and airflow in the canopy to reduce stress during times of low water.

Setting Trees Up for a Strong Growing Season

Trees that enter summer structurally sound, well-mulched, and properly watered are better equipped to handle extreme drought, secondary diseases and high winds. We want to support tree health BEFORE stressful conditions arrive, so give us a call today! Schedule your free inspection with Wimberley Tree Service and we'll help you keep your property looking great.

-Wimberley Tree Service