Springtime in Colorado is beautiful. The plants start blooming, the temperatures rise, and the promise of summer is always on the air. However, with those changing conditions come spring storms that can wreak havoc on your landscaping, trees, and even your home. The last thing any homeowner should have to deal with is damaged landscaping at the height of the growing season. Your trusted Denver landscaping companies want to help. Here are a few simple tips to get your yard ready for all that springtime weather can throw at it.

Inspect Your Trees

The first thing every homeowner should do is visually inspect their trees before spring is in full swing. Look for cracks in the trunk that could house pests or turn into weak spots during a windstorm. Inspect the canopy for damaged branches and limbs that might become a hazard during one of the Front Range’s notable windstorms. If you see anything that looks like a possible hazard, schedule an appointment with a tree trimming service. They’ll be able to assess the extent of the damage and develop a proper solution to protect your home.

Clear Away Debris

Winter weather can take its toll on tree health. When the temperatures start to rise, take the time to pick up any debris and limbs that may have fallen during the colder months. This will help prevent pests and insects from taking up residence in your trees, keeping them healthier for the spring growing season. Remember, insects like termites and beetles can do long-term damage to even the healthiest trees. When left unchecked, infested trees can become a major safety hazard, often weakening to the point of collapse in gusty conditions. Though removing fallen limbs is not the only thing you’ll need to do to protect your trees from common insects and diseases, it will still help significantly.

Add Supports

For younger trees, especially ones you planted in the last year or two, you’ll want to make sure they have the support they need to continue growing. Remember, it takes time for root systems to anchor themselves in the soil. If the tree is too young, it may lose its footing after a heavy rainstorm or windstorm. Rather than leaving it up to chance, install supports around the trunk of the tree. This will give the tree something to brace against during high winds and keep the trunk upright without doing damage to either the bark or the root system.

Schedule an Inspection with an Arborist

Some signs of damage are difficult to spot unless you’ve seen the problem before. For many homeowners, this means they’re leaving potentially dangerous trees on their property without taking the proper precautions to keep their house and surrounding property safe. Scheduling an appointment with an experienced arborist will give you the peace of mind knowing that your trees are safe enough to leave for the growing season. Should anything be damaged or have underlying issues, an arborist will be able to develop a plan of treatment or discuss removal options. Arborists pride themselves on doing what’s best for the trees and they’ll work to make sure your yard looks its best without putting your home at risk for damage.

Make Sure Your Home is Ready

While trees more often do damage to nearby structures, flying debris from the house can do damage to the trees. Inspect your roof for damaged shingles and loose roof flashing. When these items get carried off by high winds, they can cut into the bark of nearby trees or, worse, do damage to parked vehicles and other parts of your home. If you notice any issues, have them repaired as soon as possible. This is both beneficial to your home and your landscaping and can save you money down the road.

Knock Snow Off Low-Hanging Limbs

Let’s face it—springtime often brings heavy snows, even with temperatures starting to warm up. Anyone who has lived in the Denver area for more than a few years knows that May snows can be incredibly wet and heavy. If you wake up to several inches of the white stuff, check your trees. Gently knock the snow off of low-lying branches to alleviate some of the stress on the limbs. This will help reduce the risk of cracked and broken branches that can destroy the way your landscaping looks once the growing season is in full swing.

Care for Other Plants

Though trees are a large part of your landscaping, the garden beds, shrubs, and smaller features still need attention, especially as we transition from winter into spring. Mulch the soil with a high-quality wood mulch to protect the nutrient-rich dirt from erosion and wind. The same method can be applied around the roots of younger trees to help insulate their root systems during the final frost of the year. Should temperatures drop below freezing, cover young plants, flowerbeds, and shrubs with lightweight blankets to keep the frost off the plants.

Schedule Preventative Trimming

Get a jumpstart on tree maintenance and keep your yard and house safe by scheduling preventative trimming with your tree service. By letting an expert take care of overgrowth and potentially damaged or dying limbs before the growing season, you’ll set your trees up for a more successful spring, improve the appearance of your shade trees, and prevent damage during the last few frosts. Best of all, tree trimming at the appropriate time helps trigger growth, encouraging the trees to produce leaves quickly and consistently through spring and into summer.

Follow these tips and help get your yard ready for the rising temperatures without compromising the health and wellbeing of your trees. If you’re unsure about how a tree is growing or want a professional opinion on the safety of a questionable branch, contact Arbor Garden today. Our dedicated team will help with all of your tree trimming needs from routine pruning to full removal of unhealthy growth. We understand that your trees are an important part of your property and we’ll work to save every tree we can. Call (303) 722-8820 to schedule a consultation.