How to Prepare Trees and Shrubs for Winter
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Expert tips for protecting roots, maintaining soil moisture, and preparing trees and shrubs for colder Midwest weather.
Cooler nights, shorter days, and the first flashes of fall color can make it seem like your landscape is winding down for the year. Above ground, it is putting on one last show. Below the surface, the work is not finished.
Tree and shrub roots can remain active as plants transition toward dormancy. That makes fall tree and shrub care an important part of winter preparation. What you do now can influence how well your plants handle cold temperatures, dry soil, and harsh winds, as well as how strongly they return in spring.
Matthew Walker, DreamLawn’s Tree & Shrub Specialist, has spent enough time working outdoors to know that the most important part of a landscape is not always the part you can see.
“Trees are honest. The leaves put on the show, but the roots do the work. When fall color starts painting the skyline, I’m already thinking about what’s happening in the soil. The season isn’t over down there.”
Spring gets most of the attention because that is when landscapes wake up, fill out, and begin growing again. But a healthier spring starts months earlier.
In fall, trees and shrubs can direct more of their resources toward the root system instead of producing flowers, leaves, and new shoots. Strong roots help plants access available water and nutrients while building greater resilience for changing Midwest conditions.
The featured seasonal treatment in the fall care plan is DreamLawn’s Fall Root Stimulator , a root-zone treatment within the DreamLawn Tree & Shrub Program .
Applied as trees and shrubs transition toward dormancy, Fall Root Stimulator is designed to support the root system during this important seasonal window. It helps encourage root development, support nutrient uptake, and give plants a stronger foundation before winter. Walker explains:
“A hard winter has a way of finding every weak spot. You do not wait for the ground to freeze before you start preparing. Fall Root Stimulator helps us shore up the root system now, while the plant can still put that support to work.”
The DreamLawn Fall Root Stimulator helps:
Strong roots help plants make better use of available water and nutrients while building greater resilience for cold temperatures, drying winds, and changing Midwest conditions.
Summer may be ending, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to forget the hose. Trees and shrubs that enter winter with adequate soil moisture are better prepared for cold temperatures, drying winds and frozen ground.
The goal is to water slowly and deeply. A quick spray may wet the surface, but it often does little for the absorbing roots spread throughout the surrounding soil. According to Walker:
“A quick splash just darkens the dirt. It does not do much for the tree. Give it a slow, deep soak that reaches the root zone. Less often, more thoroughly. That is how you make the water count.”
Don’t assume watering season ends with the first freeze. During a dry winter, watch for mild days when the temperature rises above 38°F and the ground is not frozen. Pull the hose back out and let the water trickle around the root zone for 10 to 15 minutes.
“Yes, it means dragging the hose back out, giving everything a good drink, draining it and putting it away again. It’s a little extra work on a winter day, but your trees will thank you when spring comes around.”
K-State Research and Extension recommends thoroughly soaking the soil around established trees and shrubs before the ground freezes. During a dry winter, watering during a mild stretch when the soil is not frozen can be especially helpful for evergreens. Always disconnect and drain the hose after watering to protect it from freezing temperatures.
Cooler air can fool us into assuming the soil is holding plenty of moisture. The surface may look damp while the active root zone beneath it is dry.