With Spring approaching, the trees will begin budding with leaves, and the heavier branches will drop lower over the sidewalks and street.  Maintain tree branches at 8 feet above sidewalks and 14 feet over streets (see PCVA Guidelines, Sec 2.3.3).  This keeps branches from impacting pedestrians walking on the sidewalks and keeps vehicles free from being hindered/scratched in the roads.  
  -- If your trees are located close to a street corner and/or a stop sign, you may need to trim your branches a bit more to avoid visually impacting a driver's ability to see the oncoming traffic or street sign.

Pruning Tips.  Learn more about the keys to healthy trees and shrubs from the Colorado Master Gardener Program's pruning guide at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/616.pdf and Gardener's Supply Company early season pruning guide at https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/early-season-pruning/7889.html

 Even though landscape plants are dormant and brown, they should be watered periodically.
When to water 

• Water one to two times per month from November to April. 
• Choose a warm winter day with air temperature above 40 degrees and unfrozen soil. 

What to water 

• It is most important to water newly planted lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers. 
• Established lawn areas and trees, especially those in sunny, windy, or exposed areas should also be a high priority. 
• Do not winter water cacti, succulents, buffalograss, blue grama and very xeriscape plants. 

How to water 

• Use a hose-end sprinkler or watering wand. Set a timer so you don't overwater.
• Remove the hose from the spigot after watering to prevent freeze damage. 
• Water slowly so it can soak in. 

Learn more at https://www.csu.org/Pages/Blog/Winter-watering.aspx

Although trees remain dormant during the winter, they are not immune to cold and dry conditions. Trees experience the stress of harsh winter weather and it’s usually a lack of water that causes the most damage. Colorado Springs only received 1.41 inches of rain the past 3 months and heading into the winter with dry roots can mean major trouble for your trees in the spring. The result of long, dry periods during fall and winter is injury or death to parts of the tree's root system.

​Affected trees may appear perfectly normal and resume growth in the spring using stored food energy. Established trees should be watered two times a month September and October and once a month from November to March. Trees that don't get enough water can suffer stress and drought injury. Trees may be weakened and all or parts may die in late spring or summer when temperatures rise. The signs of drought stress often don't show up until the heat of the following summer, which then makes trees more susceptible to pests and disease.  
 
Important factors to consider when watering trees: 
-Newly planted trees that have been planted within the last 3 years are more susceptible to damage from drought conditions and need to be watered more frequently than established trees. Water them to a depth of 24 inches three times a month in the fall and twice a month in the winter. 
-Evergreen trees lose water through their needles in the dry winter air. They need more stored-up water going into the winter season to make up for that. Cold, dry winds can strip water from evergreens faster than their roots can absorb it. That is why it is especially important to provide enough water in the fall and during dry spells in the winter. 
 -Even though they lose their leaves, deciduous trees should also not get too dry in the fall and winter. Water acts as an insulator for both the tree and soil. Soil that stays moist will be warmer. Likewise, plant cells that are plump with water will be less susceptible to damage from the cold. Water deciduous trees to a depth of 24 inches twice a month during the fall and once a month in the winter. 
-When watering any tree, remember to apply water out to the edge of the tree’s canopy drip line. Most established trees have a root spread equal to their height and beyond. Water deeply and avoid spraying foliage. Watering to the right depth depends on your specific soils, so you will want to measure how much water it takes your soils to reach 24 inches deep.  

Dry air, low precipitation, little soil moisture, and fluctuating temperatures are characteristics of fall and winter in many areas of Colorado. Often there is little or no snow cover to provide soil moisture from October through March.

• Trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns under these conditions may be damaged if they do not receive supplemental water
• Water only when air temperatures are above 40 degrees F
• Apply water at mid-day so it will have time to soak in before possible freezing at night

Learn more at https://www.pcva.org/uploads/7/8/8/7/78875826/csu_winter_water_fact_sheet.pdf

We hope everyone had a great landscape season!

Here’s a quick update on what’s happening around the Pine Creek community:

• Sunflower has begun winterizing irrigation systems along with year-end aeration services.
• Mow crews are finishing their final mowing operations.
• It’s been a strange year for leaf drop — many trees are still holding onto their leaves. Once about 70–75% have fallen, fall cleanup will begin.
• Pruning operations will begin next week, and all ornamental grasses will be cut back in mid-January.

Please remember, owners are responsible for leaf clean-up in their yards as well, so as the leaves keep falling, please take a moment to clean up your yards over the next few months.

​Please make sure that you or your landscape company are not blowing leaves onto the streets, sidewalks or neighboring yards.