Fall Tree Care Tips for Texas Homeowners: Keep Your Landscape Healthy Year-Round

As summer heat gives way to cooler temperatures, fall is one of the most important seasons for tree care in Central Texas. While many homeowners assume trees don’t need much attention, once leaves start dropping, the opposite is true. Autumn is the ideal time to inspect, prune, feed, and protect your trees before winter dormancy sets in.

Whether you live in Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, or surrounding areas, a little strategic care now can help your trees thrive through the winter and burst back to life next spring. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Schedule a Professional Tree Health Inspection

Fall is the perfect time to book a certified arborist tree inspection. With the summer stress of drought and extreme heat behind us, a professional evaluation can catch disease, pest infestations, or structural issues before they worsen.

Common problems spotted in the fall include:

Oak wilt symptoms that appeared during summer but went unnoticed
Armillaria root rot, which can become more visible as trees shed leaves
Bacterial leaf scorch damage that may have spread through drought-stressed canopies
Structural weaknesses from storms or deadwood that need trimming

A fall inspection enables tree experts to design preventative programs tailored to Austin’s unique climate and soil conditions.

Schedule your fall tree inspection with Austex Tree Service today to catch problems early and set your trees up for a healthy spring.

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2. Fall Tree Trimming Sets the Stage for Spring Growth

Cooler weather means less bugs, making fall one of the safest and most effective times for tree trimming and caring for your yard. Proper pruning removes diseased, dying, or rubbing branches and helps shape the plant’s structure for the year ahead.

Benefits of fall trimming include:

Preventing disease spread by removing infected branches during dormancy
Reducing the risk of falling limbs during winter storms
Encouraging healthy spring canopy growth
Improving overall tree aesthetics and property curb appeal

For larger trees, always hire Austin tree trimming and removal professionals, especially if branches hang near power lines or structures. It can be a dangrous job!

3. Deep Watering and Mulching Before Winter

Although Austin experiences mild winters, trees will always need proper hydration before going into dormancy for the winter months. Deep watering in fall helps trees store moisture and nutrients for the next few months.

Focus on the root zone (beneath the outer edges of the canopy), not just near the trunk
Apply 2–4 inches of mulch to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weed competition
Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot

This combination of watering and mulching supports strong root systems that fuel spring growth.

4. Strategically Fertilize

Many Central Texas and Austin regional soils are nutrient-poor, especially after a hot, dry summer. Layering a slow-release fertilizer in the fall can replenish essential nutrients, strengthen root systems, and help prep trees for a healthier growing season.

Certified arborists will recommend the right blend of fertilizers for your soil type and tree species, promising optimal results without over-application.

5. Disease Prevention and Pest Control

Autumn is the best time to get ahead of tree diseases and pests before they become major spring problems. For example:

Oak wilt prevention treatments are best scheduled before new growth
Inspect for borers or fungal infections that thrive in weakened trees
Remove any diseased oak trees or heavily infected branches to protect nearby healthy trees
Consider disease-resistant tree planting services if replacing lost or weak trees

With professional guidance, fall preventative treatments will save you significant costs down the line.

Protect Your Landscape with Local Experts

Trees are your property’s most valuable assets, and fall is the best time to invest in their health. From tree trimming and disease control to tree health maintenance programs, Austex Tree Service offers comprehensive care tailored to Austin’s unique seasonal challenges.

Contact Austex Tree Service to schedule your fall tree care appointment. Our local tree service experts in Round Rock and Austin are ready to keep your landscape healthy, safe, and beautiful year-round.