Hello friends and Fielding Tree Care Family!
First off, I’ll state the obvious: Colorado is on track to experience one of the driest winters since 2012, with record-low snow pack in the mountains and far above normal temperatures along the Front Range. We can all admit that seeing grass turn green in January is just plain, well, weird, right?
Far from a hoax or fake news, this is one thing that you can trust your eyes on. And yes, you’ll be happy to know that this article is being written by a real human with all his faults and bad habits. I may lean on AI to clean up grammatical errors and run-on- sentences, but the one truth you can hang your hat on is this: Every day, I’m working on trees across the Denver Metro area, making sure homeowners’ landscapes stay healthy despite our dry, high-altitude conditions..
I’ve seen many seasonal oddities over the last 26 years in our beloved state, but this year is truly an anomaly (even compared to the tornado in 2024).
Why Winter Watering is Critical for Colorado Trees
The need for watering your trees over the winter is a big deal. Really big! What normally happens is that we all drag our heels and procrastinate as long as possible. Finally, we get in touch with our sprinkler blowout guy in October, or maybe November (if we like the thrill of a good old-fashioned gamble). Then, as we’ve seen this year, we get almost no meaningful moisture well into January.
This is when the fun starts.
As the ground dries, the soil around your trees often becomes hard, compacted or even cracked, and the roots underneath begin to suffer. The tree root zone starts at the base of the tree, and usually extends just beyond the furthest edge of the canopy.
The fibrous roots, delicate and thirsty, begin to die back. This is okay and normal in most cases, and the roots can recover year-to-year throughout this process IF we receive significant, frequent snowfall the remaining winter months. But remember:
- 12 inches of snow is equivalent to 1 inch of rainfall
- That moisture must penetrate through compacted turf (the consistency of an IKEA parking lot)
- Then travel through 5 inches of grass roots before it, hopefully, reaches the tree’s roots
Sound difficult? You’re right! It’s almost impossible.
Without winter watering, tree roots will continue to die back year after year, increasing stress, until your trees eventually run out of stored energy and become vulnerable to pests and disease.
I would much rather get the phone call asking to keep your trees happy, healthy, and safe. I’d rather not get the call to remove an almost irreplaceable part of your landscape – one that provides cooling shade, loads of property value, and to be honest, just plain happiness.
And for those of you who know us well (because we’ve met on multiple levels of space and time), you know that my team and I are on a mission to keep your properties as green as possible. We also aim to save you the cost and heartbreak of tree removal, stump grinding, and replanting something that is extremely hard to replace.
Your 2026 Winter Tree Care Plan
Tried, tested, and proven on the Front Range
Step 1: Winter Tree Watering
For best results, run an open hose at the base of each tree or shrub until the root zone is completely saturated. This depends on tree size and how long it takes the zone to reach what’s called “field capacity” – the amount of water soil holds after excess gravitational water has drained away.
In short, wet. Very wet!
On my own property, I have three crabapple trees, one Norway Maple, one large ash tree, and a few small ornamental trees. I usually run an open hose:
- 30 minutes on larger trees
- 15 minutes on small to medium trees
I also use an old fashioned sprinkler (the kind we played under as kids) over each tree’s root zone for about one hour.
The ultimate test is simple:
If you can push your strongest finger into the soil up to your middle knuckle, approx 2-4 inches, then you’re good to go!
Step 2: Tree Fertilization
For optimal health, all trees on the Front Range will benefit from tree fertilization. Prevention is the ultimate medicine!
When trees are fed correctly every spring and fall, we give them a fighting chance to stay green and lush. Our tree fertilization program is custom-designed to condition the soil while delivering essential nutrients to the root system for long-term health.
Just like people, when we eat well, take our vitamins, and exercise, we’re more resilient. Tree fertilizer does the same for our trees!
If you already have a tree fertilization plan with Fielding Tree Care congratulations, you are winning! If not, we can get you what you need to get going. It’s worth it, 100%.
Step 3: Custom Pest and Disease Management
Every tree species has its own pest and diseases, including:
- Mountain Pine Beetle (pine trees)
- Emerald Ash Borer (ash trees)
- Fire Blight (apple, pear, hawthorn, and other rose-family trees)
Each pest and disease treatment has its own ideal timing:
- Evergreen injections (trees above 30 feet): late winter
- Evergreen sprays: early spring
- Ash borer treatments: late spring to early summer
- Fire blight prevention: spring
Costs depend on tree size (mostly the diameter at chest height), treatment type, and delivery method.
At Fielding Tree Care, we stay educated and current so you receive the highest-quality service at the best possible value. We are firmly opposed to wasting our clients’ time, energy, and money on services and products that produce minimal results.
Like you, we want what works, what is going to deliver the best results, and what is going to help you have the happiest and healthiest trees!
Time Is of the Essence
This winter’s drought conditions make early action critical. Contact us today for a free consultation so we can build a well-designed, thoughtful, and customized care plan for your trees.
Let’s save some trees!
Thanks everybody!
Gabe Fielding
Certified Arborist RM-7088A
