Every year at some point you'll notice the change.
The deep green of summer is starting to lighten. The days are getting shorter. It's nice and cool. Soon you'll start noticing the change of colors across Philadelphia's Main Line.
Fall is beautiful, but for us tree geeks, it's also educational.
The shift from summer to fall can tell us a lot about how the tree fared during the growing season. Stress that we might have missed in the spring is now apparent. Summer canopy is now missing and easier to assess. Soil conditions, insects and foliage changes can all provide insight as to what your tree might need. If you're a property owner that wants to maintain mature trees for many years to come, fall is a good time to take it easy and take a look up.
Begin at the Top
Before the leaves are gone take a look.
We expect a change of colors in the fall, but sometimes we can glean information based on how the tree enters dormancy.
Did one section of the tree change color much earlier than the rest? Are there any bare spots? Did certain branches produce fewer leaves this year? Are the leaves smaller than you remember? Are they damaged? Do they drop much earlier than the leaves on similar trees around your area?
Again, none of these are necessarily indicators of anything being wrong with your tree. Some species just take longer to enter fall than others. We also cannot control the weather, and each year can bring changes to when our trees enter dormancy.
What's important is noticing when something seems out of the ordinary for that particular tree.
Trees often communicate to us that something is up before it becomes a major issue. The more we know about noticing these early signs, the better we can understand what is happening.
Summer Stress Might Be Apparent
It is now late September, and trees on the Main Line have just completed another growing season.
They've endured heat, heavy rain or drought, insects, diseases, soil conditions, construction and the countless other variables that come with growing in a developed landscape.
Mature trees can endure a lot of stress, but that doesn't mean they aren't affected by it.
By early fall you might start noticing that your tree didn't fare too well during the summer. Maybe you can see a thinning canopy. Perhaps there is premature leaf drop. Dead branches? Reduced growth?
The question isn't so much, "What should we do to this tree?"
The question is, "Why is the tree reacting this way?"
A thinning canopy could be indicative of any number of issues. Treating the ailment without knowing what is happening inside the tree, and especially below ground, can miss the forest for the trees.
Look Up… And Look Down
When it comes to tree care, we tend to focus on branches and foliage.
However, much of the action starts at our feet.
Roots require certain amounts of water, oxygen and soil conditions. Soil compaction, drainage, grade changes and competition from surrounding landscape plants can all play a role in a tree's ability to take up what it needs.
Fall is a good time to assess what is going on around your important trees.
Has soil been added around the base of the tree? Is mulch built up too high or against the trunk? Does water tend to collect around the tree? Was there recent construction, driveway work or increased traffic in the root area?
What happens around our trees can have unintended consequences that might not be immediately obvious in the canopy.
This is especially important when it comes to established landscapes. Many of the mature trees we enjoy throughout the Main Line have been growing for generations while the lawn and plantings around them have been changed.
We Get a Better Look at Structure
As leaves start to come off the branches we can get a better look at the structure of the tree.
Summer canopy is now missing and branches are visible. Deadwood is now apparent. Crossing or rubbing branches might be evident. The placement of major limbs, the trunk and structures can all be assessed.
Fall and dormancy are great times to evaluate tree structure.
However, this doesn't mean you now need to prune every tree you have. There needs to be a reason for pruning.
Perhaps you need to remove dead or damaged branches. Maybe you need to address the structure or manage branches near your home or driveway.
When it comes to mature trees, pruning is crucial. Too much removal of live canopy or unnecessary pruning can do more harm than good.
We want to work with the natural shape of the tree and consider how it will grow many years in the future.
Don't Overlook Dead or Damaged Branches
Damage from summer thunderstorms and strong winds might be hard to detect when trees are fully leafed out.
Once foliage starts to come off the branches take another look.
Dead or damaged branches and hanging limbs need to be evaluated, especially if they are near driveways, patios, walkways or any other areas of frequent use.
You might also notice cracking, cavities or other abnormal changes near major limbs and branch unions.
Just because a tree or branch has a certain feature doesn't necessarily mean it is prone to failure. Trees are living organisms and what might concern a homeowner might be perfectly manageable.
This is where getting a second opinion is useful. We want to know what we are looking at, not just make an assumption based on what it looks like.
It's Also Time to Plan
Tree care isn't just about what happens one season.
Fall is a good time to consider what we noticed throughout the year and what we want to see in the years to come.
Maybe that beautiful oak needs to be structurally pruned. Perhaps that ornamental tree needs more attention paid to its form. Maybe that tree with a declining canopy needs to have its soil or roots evaluated. Trees that have dealt with insects or disease might benefit from a plant health care plan for the upcoming growing season.
When we plan out our tree care it becomes proactive instead of reactive.
This is especially important when it comes to mature trees. We can't simply replace the trees that make our Main Line properties so special in any meaningful way. They have grown to be the size and have contributed to our landscapes for generations.
We need to care for them in the same way.
Walk the Property Before Winter
Sometime this fall take a walk around your landscape, but instead of focusing on the lawn, flowers or patio, focus on the trees.
Take notice of how the canopy has changed. Are you seeing dead branches? Are you noticing bare spots? Does something just seem different about your trees than it did this time last year? Consider what changes might have occurred around the base of the tree. Think about branches that have grown closer to your home or other structures.
You don't need to self-diagnose everything.
The takeaway here is noticing.
Trees change gradually and if we are there every day it can be surprisingly hard to detect.
Fall gives us a chance to see something different.
Caring for the Main Line's Canopy
Mature trees are what make our Main Line properties and communities so wonderful to behold. Caring for them isn't just about dealing with tree issues as they come up. It's about understanding each tree, noticing how it changes and making informed decisions that benefit the health and structure of that tree for years to come.
Since 1957 John B. Ward & Co. has been working with Main Line and Greater Philadelphia property owners to care for their trees and shrubs with this mindset.
If you had noticed something about one of your trees this year, fall is a good time to call and take a closer look.
Walk the grounds with one of our Certified Arborists and start planning for this season and the years ahead.