Spring Tree Care Guide: Helping Trees Recover from Winter Damage and Preparing Them for Summer

After a long winter, it can be very relaxing to go outside, enjoy the fresh air, and take in the beauty of your landscape. However, you may notice your trees aren’t looking as good as you’d hoped. Some might even appear to be dying. Spring tree care could save them and leave you with healthier and better-looking trees.

Key Takeaways:

• Inspect your trees for winter storm damage and have broken or dead branches professionally pruned to prevent safety hazards and reduce stress on your trees.
• Conduct a proper soil test through the University of Missouri and apply a slow-release fertilizer based on the results to provide essential nutrients without overwhelming your tree.
• Spring is an ideal time to plant new trees in Missouri; ensure you select appropriate species and follow proper planting techniques.
• Schedule preventive treatments for common pests and diseases like emerald ash borer and Dutch elm disease, as prevention is more cost-effective than treating established problems.
• Maintain proper mulch depth (2-4 inches), keep the root flare exposed, and provide supplemental water during drought conditions to support tree health throughout the changing seasons.

6 Things to Do for Your Trees This Spring

As you start spending more time outdoors in spring, it’s the perfect moment to help your trees bounce back from winter and gear up for summer. In St. Louis and St. Charles counties, spring and summer are typically the most stressful seasons for trees – making spring care essential for long-term health and resilience.

 

1. Inspect Trees for Any Broken or Dead Branches

Winter storms can be just as damaging to trees as summer ones. Wind, snow, and ice can snap branches or uproot trees. Our area saw the devastating effects firsthand in March 2025, when a massive winter storm caused extensive damage throughout St. Louis and beyond.

Even if your tree did not suffer apparent damage, any broken branches in the canopy could break off during the next storm, potentially damaging property or injuring someone.

Inspect your trees and look for any signs of broken branches. This is typically easier by the time buds break in the spring, as dead branches stand out without leaves. If you have a large shade tree and can’t get a comprehensive look, use binoculars to inspect your tree, or have an arborist take a look and help you identify branches.

Once you’ve located them, have a professional prune the branches to increase safety and reduce stress in your tree.

PRO TIP: There are many reasons to prune your trees aside from getting rid of deadwood. Want to learn more? Check out our previous article on why to prune trees in Missouri.

2. Conduct a Soil Test and Add Fertilizer

Trees draw up nutrients from the ground, eventually depleting soil of things like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. While there are ways to keep nutrients in the soil, fertilizers work to provide a quick boost to your trees.

Before purchasing any fertilizer, conduct a soil test to determine if your landscape needs any supplemental nutrients. Most home kits sold at hardware stores are often cheap and unreliable. The University of Missouri Extension Service offers soil testing to analyze the nutrient content and recommend any amendments.

Use a slow-release fertilizer that will provide nitrogen for your trees over time rather than all at once. Too much fertilizer can harm the roots and kill a tree entirely.

3. Plant New Trees

Spring is one of the best times to plant a tree to add extra greenery to your landscape. Some general tips for planting a tree in the spring include:

• Ensure you plant a species that will thrive in Missouri and will have enough space to grow.
• Dig your hole just as deep as the tree’s root ball and at least two to three times as wide.
• Avoid air pockets in the hole by tamping down the soil (being sure not to compact it).
• Plant your tree so that the root flare (the portion of the trunk that meets the roots) is above ground.
• Mulch around your newly planted tree and provide plenty of supplemental water in the first few months after transplant.

4. Schedule Preventive Treatments for Insects and Diseases

While the beginning of spring may not feel like a time to focus on insects and diseases, it’s the perfect time to schedule preventive pest and disease treatment with an arborist. Preventing insects from establishing and diseases from infecting your tree is generally more cost-effective than trying to treat a tree afterwards.

Preventive treatments may include trunk injections of insecticides or fungicides, or targeted sprays to control overwintering pests before they become a bigger problem. Some of the common tree insects and diseases to watch out for include:

• Emerald ash borer
• Oak gall
• Dutch elm disease
• Anthracnose
• Bagworms
• Japanese beetles
• Apple scab

5. Check Your Mulch and Add More if Needed

Organic mulch has several benefits for your St. Louis County trees. While we recommend organic mulches made of woodchips, they will naturally decompose over time, necessitating replenishment.

Grab a ruler and check the level of mulch once the weather warms up in the spring. Ideally, it should be somewhere between two and four inches deep. If the mulch has broken down too much, spread more under your tree’s drip line.

Additionally, you’ll want to inspect the mulch to ensure winter storms did not move it and cause it to pile up against your tree’s root flare (the area where the trunk meets the roots). Always keep the root flare uncovered, as a mulch-covered root flare is prone to developing decay and fungal diseases. Gently remove any piled-up mulch, being careful not to damage the bark in the process.

6. Water Your Trees to Help Mitigate Drought

While we may not see the worst of drought conditions in the St. Louis and St. Charles County area, drought still regularly happens and affects our trees. Without intervention, your trees may end up stunted and struggling to survive.

When most people think of drought, they picture hot summers with plenty of sun. However, droughts are also common in the winter and fall, like the one our area saw in September 2024.

You can mitigate the effects of winter drought by providing supplemental water to trees. To check if your trees need water, dig a small hole about two inches deep and feel the soil. If it feels dry, your tree could benefit from supplemental water.

Watering trees is about taking things low and slow to ensure the water penetrates deeply to get to the roots. Use a soaker hose or one with a soaker attachment. Alternatively, you can drill a few holes in a five-gallon bucket and allow it to drain for smaller trees.

Whichever method you use, try to get the water all around the tree’s drip line (the area under the canopy). Avoid watering the trunk, as this does nothing for the tree.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spring Tree Care

Spring is a critical season for your trees—it sets the foundation for how well they’ll handle the stress of summer heat, drought, and pests. When we talk with homeowners about spring tree care, we often hear the same questions. So, we’ve put together answers to the most common ones to help you understand why spring maintenance matters and how it can protect your trees all year long.

Can I do anything to protect a tree from winter damage so it needs less help in spring?

Yes, you can help prepare your tree for winter conditions by performing fall tree care. Fall care looks similar to spring work, but you’ll need to focus on preventing winter damage from storms, snow, and cold temperatures rather than reacting to present problems.

Proper fall tree care won’t be able to prevent all winter problems, and you will still need to inspect your trees in the spring to help get them ready for summer.

What trees should I prune in the spring?

The best trees to prune in the spring are your ornamental trees after they flower. Pruning these trees in the winter will remove their flowers and cause less impressive displays. After they finish blooming, you can prune them to encourage better aesthetics next season.

Can I remove a tree in the spring?

Yes, you can remove a tree in the spring if it is dead or unwanted. Tree care companies remove trees year-round, though they have to work around the weather to ensure the safety of their crew. If we see high winds or large storms on the day of your tree removal, we may have to reschedule for a day with more favorable conditions.

Trust Mathias Precision Tree Service to Prepare Your Trees for a Healthy Spring

As winter fades, your trees need help bouncing back from cold weather stress and preparing for the challenges of summer. While homeowners can handle basic tasks like watering and mulching, more technical work – like pruning or diagnosing pest issues – should be left to a professional.

At Mathias Precision Tree Service, our ISA Certified Arborists bring expert knowledge and hands-on experience to every job. We provide targeted spring services like pruning, fertilization, and pest management to keep your trees healthy, safe, and thriving year-round.

Call us today at 314-322-7690 or request a quote online. Let’s give your trees the care they need this spring.