Winter is a time of rest and renewal for your trees. There are still tasks you can do during this time.
Planting
As long as the ground is not frozen, you can still plant trees. They will have an easier time with the cool temperatures and rainfall.
Watering
Take care when watering in winter. In cold climates, only water mid-morning when both the air and soil temperatures rise above 40F and the snow has melted.
You can continue watering in mild climates, though you will likely not need to much since rain is common.
Fertilizing
In mild climates, you can fertilize if soil tests show a need. Otherwise, in cold climates, don't fertilize until spring.
Pruning
As always, remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches to keep the tree healthy. You can also do corrective pruning to shape the tree. However, if the tree flowers in the spring, prune lightly since next spring's flower buds are already on the branches.
Fruits and Nuts to Harvest
Look for these fruits to ripen in winter:
- Avocados
- Citrus fruits
- Loquats
- Mangoes (in California)
- Papayas
- Persimmons
Nuts ready for harvest:
- Macadamia nuts
