What happens to our trees in spring?

During the spring, when it’s getting lighter and warmer, and the birds are singing, it’s the time of year when the sap starts to rise in our trees. Sap is used by trees to transport minerals and nutrients up from the ground through the tree to the branches and leaves.

As we all know, trees that lose their leaves in the winter, becoming dormant so they can cope with winter. In the Fall, they move sugars from the leaves to the roots where they are stored over the winter. As long as temperatures are below freezing, the tree takes on water from the surrounding area and then sleeps and waits. When it starts to warm up in the Spring, the sap, fueled by the stored water starts to rise up the tree, taking the stored sugars from the roots to the branches and twigs where it’s needed to grow its new set of leaves. This rising of sap carries on for many weeks until the water pressure in the roots reaches those lower summer levels.

Note that if a tree is pruned or damaged during this time, sap will ooze from the wound and so it’s best not to prune trees in spring. If you see a damaged tree bleeding sap, the best thing is to leave it alone as just like humans it will heal itself and interfering can make things worse.

If you’re concerned about the health of your trees, call Quantum Tree Services and we’d be happy to advise.