The hottest days of summer are beginning to wind down, and cooler mornings and evenings are giving us the first hints that fall is on the way in Metro Detroit.
While it may feel early to start thinking about fall landscape care, late summer is actually an important time to take a closer look at your property. Months of heat, dry conditions, storms, insects, disease pressure, and other environmental stressors can take a toll on trees, shrubs, lawns, and soil.
Before leaves begin to fall and winter isn’t far behind, now is the time to identify problems, address summer stress, and start planning for the services your landscape may need this fall.
Start With a Late-Summer Landscape Check
Your landscape has been through an entire growing season, which means August can reveal problems that weren’t obvious earlier in the year.
Trees and shrubs may be showing signs of drought stress, insect activity, disease, damaged limbs, compacted soil, or other concerns. Some issues are easy to spot, while others require a trained eye to determine what’s happening.
Camelot’s scouting services take a comprehensive look at your landscape, including plant health, canopy structure, soil conditions, root flare, signs of insects and disease, and other environmental stressors.
Identifying these concerns now gives our arborists an opportunity to recommend a customized plan for fall, winter, and the following growing season.
Plan Ahead for Dormancy Pruning
You don’t have to wait until winter to start thinking about dormant-season pruning.
Once trees lose their leaves and enter dormancy, arborists have a clearer view of their branch structure. This makes it an excellent time to identify and address deadwood, rubbing branches, structural defects, clearance issues, and other concerns.
Dormant-season pruning is especially important for certain species, including oak, elm, birch, and ash trees. Planning ahead helps ensure necessary work can be completed during the appropriate seasonal window.
If you’ve noticed dead or damaged branches, limbs hanging over structures, or trees that may need structural attention, now is a good time to have them evaluated.
Give Your Soil and Roots Some Attention
Healthy trees and plants start below ground.
Summer heat, dry conditions, foot traffic, construction, heavy equipment, and other factors can contribute to soil compaction and root stress. Fall provides an opportunity to improve those conditions and support the root system before winter.
Depending on the needs of your landscape, Camelot may recommend services such as aeration or Air Spading to relieve compacted soil and improve the movement of oxygen, water, and nutrients around the root system.
Organic Compost Tea can also introduce beneficial microorganisms into the soil, helping improve soil health and nutrient cycling. Deep Root Feeding may be recommended to replenish nutrients and support healthy growth heading into the next season.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. The right approach depends on your plants, soil conditions, and the specific stressors affecting your property.
Look for Structural Concerns Before Fall and Winter Storms
Summer storms can leave behind damage that isn’t always immediately obvious.
Cracks, weak branch unions, damaged limbs, and multi-stem trees may become greater concerns when fall winds, heavy snow, and ice arrive.
A professional assessment can help determine whether pruning, cabling and bracing, or another solution is appropriate. Addressing structural concerns before winter can help reduce risk and better prepare trees for the months ahead.
Start Thinking About Winter Protection
Fall is also the time to prepare certain plants for harsh winter conditions.
Broadleaf evergreens can lose moisture throughout the winter, particularly when the ground is frozen and roots cannot replace that moisture. Anti-desiccant treatments applied later in the season can help protect vulnerable plants from winter moisture loss.
You may not need the treatment today, but identifying which plants could benefit from protection is another reason to begin planning before temperatures drop.
Don’t Wait Until the Leaves Fall
Late summer is a transition period for your landscape. It’s also an opportunity.
Taking action now allows you to identify what struggled during summer, determine what needs attention this fall, and plan dormant-season work before schedules begin to fill.
Camelot Tree & Shrub Co. has been helping Metro Detroit homeowners and businesses care for their landscapes since 1989. Our experienced arborists can evaluate your property and recommend a plan based on what your trees, shrubs, lawn, and soil actually need.
Ready to start preparing your landscape for fall?
📞 313-884-1699
🌐 camelottree.com/schedule-a-consultation
