TREE CARE TIPS

Winter Ice and Snow Damage

One ice or snow storm can quickly devastate trees that have taken decades to grow into prized specimens. Repair will depend on the extent of damage and tree species. Some acts of nature cannot be prevented but there are some things homeowners can do to protect and prevent damage to their valuable trees.
If your tree has been ‘topped’ in the past, it will be more prone to failure and splitting. Topping causes weak branch attachments. These branch attachments are often attached to rotting interior wood because cuts have not been made in an area that the tree can close off. We don’t ever recommend the topping of trees. Certified Arborists can reduce the size of a tree without topping. The response of the tree will be proper wound closure, reduced watersprouts, and a healthier tree. Certified arborists follow the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards for tree care. Too often, homeowners select the least expensive tree service they can find. This does not ensure they have the education to understand tree biology and the trees’ response to what we do to trees. It takes more than having equipment to be a true professional service.
Most tree species should have one dominant trunk. Trees with co-dominant (more than one leading trunk) will be more likely to split in a storm.
Species such as ‘Bradford Pear’ will inevitably split when mature. Their form is more like a shrub on a stick than a tree form. The multitude of heavy stems that arise from the trunk have no branch collars and are structurally weak.
Sugar maple, hackberry, willow, elms, and yellowwood are among tree species that naturally form weak branch attachments. These attachments will have a tight ‘V’ shaped attachment rather than a stronger ‘U’ attachment. Fast growing species such as silver maple and poplar are usually weak wooded and are high risk for damage. These species should be inspected by an arborist who can then properly prune them to improve form and reduce the chance they will split during a storm. A certified arborist can also evaluate your trees and install cabling or bracing on weak limbs and multiple trunks.
White pine has a very broad form with branches that form horizontally. Because they are evergreen, this provides a lot of surface area to capture snow and ice. This extra weight during a storm may cause breakage. Arborvitae often have several trunks. They too can capture a lot of snow and ice. With evergreens, if possible, gently knock wet snow off them as it accumulates on the branches. A broom is a good tool to do this. Ice is not easily removed. If a branch bends severely from ice accumulation, it is often best to let the ice melt on its own. Bent branches will most likely return to their natural position.
Brown Hill Tree Co. provides emergency services should a crisis arise with storm damaged trees. Fallen branch or tree removal is best left to our professionals. Bent limbs can be under incredible compression or tension stress and if cut incorrectly, can spring back and cause severe injury or fatality.
Did You Know?
• More than 135,000 people each year are severely injured by chainsaws?
• The average injury requires more than 100 stitches!
• The chain on a chainsaw moves at about 65 mph!
• 600 very sharp teeth pass per second on a chainsaw!
• Saws kick-back 1/10th of a second faster than our brain can respond!
• The muffler on the saw can reach 900°!
Let our highly trained professionals help with your tree emergencies.