When a major winter storm is on the horizon, the weight of ice and snow can turn a beautiful canopy into a liability. While long-term care is the best defense, there are several immediate actions you can take to protect your property and help your trees survive the freeze.
Here is a homeowner’s guide to preparing for a winter storm.
1. The Pre-Storm Checklist
If the storm is still a day or two away, focus on these high-impact “triage” steps:
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Inspect for “Ticking Time Bombs”: Look for dead wood, hollow cavities, or deep cracks in trunks. If you see a large, dead branch hanging over your roof or car, consider calling an emergency arborist immediately.
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Water Your Trees: It sounds counterintuitive, but moist soil stays warmer than dry soil. A deep soak before the ground freezes helps prevent “winter burn” (dehydration), especially for evergreens.
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Mulch the Root Zone: Apply 2–4 inches of wood chips or bark around the base (but not touching the trunk). This acts as an insulating blanket for the roots against the “freeze-thaw” cycle.
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Tie Up Small Evergreens: Multi-stemmed shrubs like Arborvitae or Boxwoods are prone to “splaying” (splitting open) under heavy snow. Use soft twine or strips of burlap to loosely wrap the branches together, keeping them upright and compact.
2. During the Storm: The “Golden Rule”
Once the ice and snow start falling, your priority shifts from maintenance to safety.
The Golden Rule: If your trees are covered in ice, leave them alone. Ice is heavy and makes wood brittle; trying to knock it off or “shake” a limb can cause it to snap instantly, potentially injuring you or damaging the tree further.
If it’s just heavy, wet snow:
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The Upward Sweep: Use a broom to gently brush snow off branches. Always use an upward motion. Pushing down or shaking the branch adds sudden stress that causes breakage.
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Bottom-to-Top: Start clearing snow from the bottom branches first. If you start at the top, the falling snow will just overload the lower branches.
3. Protecting Your Trees from Salt
Road salt (sodium chloride) is a silent killer for trees. It draws moisture out of roots and can cause “leaf burn” in the spring.
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Use Alternatives: Switch to calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) or sand for your own walkways.
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Create Barriers: if your trees are near a busy road, a temporary burlap screen can block salty slush from being sprayed onto the foliage.
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Avoid Piling: Never shovel salty snow from your driveway onto the root zone of your trees.
4. Post-Storm Recovery
After the clouds clear, assess the damage safely.
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Don’t Rush to Prune: If a branch is bent but not broken, wait. Trees are remarkably resilient and will often “spring back” once the weight melts.
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Clean Cuts: If a branch did snap, it needs a clean prune back to the “branch collar” (the raised bump where the branch meets the trunk). This helps the tree seal the wound and prevents rot.
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Stay Clear of Power Lines: Never attempt to prune or move a branch that is touching or near a utility line. Call your local power company immediately.
Need post storm tree/brand cleanup? Contact us.