By CHRISTOPHER KAZARIAN
Shorter days and cooler temperatures are not
just a sign that tourist season has ended on Cape Cod. It is a sign that fall has arrived.
And it is a perfect time to get outdoors and give a
little TLC to those trees and plants in your yard so they will not only survive, but thrive next summer.
The first step is simple: water your plants. “All of our plants, our trees and shrubs, even in irrigated properties, are stressed from a lack of water because we haven’t had any good rain,” said Natascha Batchelor, district manager for Davey Tree Expert Company. “That is the first, key thing to reduce stress.”
As to when people should begin watering, Ms. Batchelor said to do it as soon as possible. The general rule of thumb, she said, is that larger trees should be watered to a 12-inch depth once a week. Residents should continue that process until the first frost arrives and the leaves start to fall.
At that point, Ms. Batchelor recommended raking all leaves and evergreen needles from the property to reduce the potential for diseases. Often, she said, leaves can carry a fungus that will spore in the spring, causing damage to plants next year.
Pruning any dead or diseased branches off trees and plants is another important step that can be taken as part of the fall preparation.
Mulching is another measure that can be done over the next few weeks to ensure that the root system of plants will not dry out. However, Ms. Batchelor cautioned against putting the mulch too close to the stem of those plants because they are not adapted to being moist all the time.
David Salter, the tree division manager for Hamilton Tree & Landscape in Falmouth, said autumn is an ideal time for prepping plants for the spring. That is where a fall fertilization can serve to benefit a plant. “It helps to protect it against defoliation and gives it a chance to resprout if it did get defoliated this spring,” he said.
Homeowners can find fall fertilizers at a store like Mahoney’s Garden Center or Aubuchon Hardware.
As far as pests, local arborists raised concerns about the black oak gall wasp which has wreaked havoc in recent years on black oaks across Cape Cod. The wasps lay eggs in the tree’s twigs, causing the larvae to block the flow of water and nutrients to the tree. “It is becoming a bigger and bigger problem,” Mr. Salter said. “It is mostly a coastal problem. I haven’t seen it in Hatchville. It is about a mile from salt water.”
Treatment for the gall wasp can be done in the fall and involves an injection into the tree that can only be done by an arborist or certified applicator.
The hemlock woolly adelgid is another invasive species that can be treated in the fall using a horticultural oil that also must be applied by an arborist.
All other treatment for pests, including the winter moth, must be done in the spring, said Stephen Buckhoff of Bourne’s Seaside Arborists.
His list of recommendations included wrapping newly planted evergreens in burlap so they do not get wind burn. An anti-desiccant spray can also serve to protect evergreens from harsh winds during the winter.
Mr. Buckhoff acknowledged there is plenty to keep residents busy over the ensuing weeks as they prepare their yards for winter. “Almost every property has some kind of problem on it, whether or not the homeowner knows about it,” Mr. Buckhoff said.
His biggest piece of advice, no matter what time of year, is for residents to monitor their landscape regularly. “Look at plants, at least on a weekly basis, and see if there is something chewing on it, or if there is a new spot on it or if the color on the leaf has changed,” he said. “Monitoring catches things early on before they become a major problem. Then you have less pesticide or fungicide applications necessary because the problem isn’t as severe. In the long run you don’t want to be having to spray pesticides and fungicides all over the place because a healthy plant or tree doesn’t need it.”