Fall is the season when your trees quietly prepare for winter. Even as the leaves begin to drop, the roots are still active, pulling in nutrients and getting ready for spring growth. What you do now can make the difference between a struggling tree and one that bursts into life next year.
A little care in the fall pays off with healthier trees, faster fruit, and less stress come spring. Here are three simple steps to focus on this season.
Table of Contents
- 1. Water Deep Before Dormancy
- 2. Fertilize for a Strong Start Next Spring
- 3. Prune Lightly and Clean Up
- 🌱 Bonus: Mulch Done Right
- 🌵 Fall Planting: The Best Time of Year
- ✅ Fall Tree Care Checklist for Desert Climates
- Wrap-Up
1. Water Deep Before Dormancy
Out here in the desert, water is always the number-one issue. In the fall, your goal is long, deep watering. You want moisture to reach two to three feet down into the soil so roots can soak up everything they need before the tree goes dormant.
Think of it like this: when you’re headed out for a long hike, you hydrate first. Trees work the same way. If a hot, dry wind is coming, give them a little extra water so they’re ready.
Important: once your tree has lost all its leaves, it’s officially dormant. That means you stop watering until spring. Roots continue to grow underground, but the tree above ground is resting.
2. Fertilize for a Strong Start Next Spring
Fall is also a great time to fertilize. Why? Because fertilizer has weeks to soak into the soil and move up into the tree before dormancy. By the time spring arrives, your tree already has what it needs to leaf out strong.
There are two main kinds of fertilizer:
- Crystal fertilizer — slow-release, lasts up to three months, but takes longer to absorb.
- Liquid fertilizer — quick-acting, but used up right away, so you need to reapply often.
In fall, a crystal fertilizer is your best bet. It gives steady nutrients through the dormant months without needing constant reapplication.
3. Prune Lightly and Clean Up
Fall pruning should be light. Think of it as tidying up Remove damaged or dead branches, do a little shaping, and clear any old fruit hanging on the tree.
Save the heavy cuts for spring. Why? In spring, the sap rises back into the branches and protects the tree just like a band-aid protects a cut. That natural “sap bandage” helps prevent insect damage and disease on fresh cuts.
🌱 Bonus: Mulch Done Right
One of the biggest mistakes I see is people piling mulch up against the trunk of their tree — what I call a “mulch volcano.” Don’t do it! That constant moisture against the bark will rot the tree and eventually kill it.
Instead, here’s the right way to mulch in fall:
- Keep mulch at least six inches away from the trunk.
- Spread it two to three inches thick in the basin around the tree.
- Mulch helps the soil hold onto moisture through dry, windy days.
Done right, mulch is a friend. Done wrong, it’s a tree killer.
🌵 Fall Planting: The Best Time of Year
If you’re thinking about adding new trees, fall is the best time to plant. The roots have a chance to grow and get established while the tree above ground rests. By spring, the tree is ready to take off without the stress of being freshly planted.
When planting in our Arizona soil, dig a hole wider than the root ball and mix the native dirt with organic soil. At M&D Trees, we make our own bulk soil blend with washed sand, pine wood chips, horse manure, straw, and hay. It’s organic, nutrient-rich, and perfect for helping new trees settle in.
✅ Fall Tree Care Checklist for Desert Climates
- Water deeply until leaves drop, then stop.
- Fertilize with a slow-release (crystal) fertilizer.
- Lightly prune and remove old fruit.
- Mulch properly — never touch the trunk, keep it 2–3″ thick in the basin.
- Plant new trees now for the best head start.
Wrap-Up
Fall is your chance to give trees what they need before winter. Deep watering, steady fertilizing, light pruning, proper mulching, and smart planting will set your trees up for success.
Fall is the very best time to plant and prepare — you’ll see the difference next spring.
Ready to get started? Come visit us at M&D Trees in Kingman for desert-acclimated trees, organic soil, and expert guidance to help your landscape thrive.
