Use These Tips To Care For Your Trees After A Snowfall
The sight of snow gently coating the branches of the trees in your yard may seem appealing, but the winter weather can wreak havoc on the health of your trees. Heavy snow and ice can bend and even break branches off your trees, leaving them in poor condition and possibly even close to dying. If you care for your trees during the summer months, it's important to care for them during the winter, too. After a snowfall, here are some tips to keep in mind to help you care for your trees.
Gently Shake Off Light Snow
When a light snow finishes falling, it's worthwhile to don your winter apparel and head out into your yard to tend to the trees. Light snow will typically sit gently on the branches, which means that you can shake the individual branches gently to knock off the snow. This task is important because it helps keep excess weight off the branches; even light snow can be heavy if the snow has accumulated considerably. Don't use a shovel for this task, even if it seems as though the job will get done quicker. A shovel can chip branches and cause damage, so it's best to perform this job with your gloved hand.
Leave Ice-Laden Snow In Place
If a mix of ice and snow has fallen, you might be tempted to quickly remove it from your trees. Although this is occasionally possible, it can also be risky. The ice in the snow can fuse the mixture to the branches, and you may end up snapping individual branches off — after all, they're already brittle from the cold temperatures. If the ice-laden snow appears well stuck onto the trees, let it be. If the temperature rises and the ice and snow begin to melt, you may have some success gently shaking the branches to remove the mixture.
Tie Up Bent Branches
You may occasionally notice that branches that have held heavy snow and ice are bent once the snow and ice melt away. The longer they remain bent, the more likely that they'll stay that way permanently, but there is a solution to try. Pull any bent branches back to their normal angle and, with heavy twine, tightly tie them to a fence or the sturdy trunk of a large nearby tree. If you leave the twine in place, the branch can lose its bent nature and go back to the way it was before being bent.
For more information and help with caring for your trees in the winter, contact a professional tree service in your area, such as On Demand Tree Services.