Before the Blizzard: Essential Arborist Tips for Protecting Your Trees from Snow and Ice

 

The first major winter storm is often the most destructive. Heavy, wet snow and freezing ice can turn sturdy branches into hazardous projectiles. Fortunately, with a few proactive measures taken before the deep freeze, you can significantly reduce the risk of costly storm damage.

Here are some essential arborist tips for protecting your trees from snow and ice.

1. The Best Defense: Dormant Pruning

 

Pruning in late fall/early winter is the single most effective preventative measure against storm damage.

• Remove Weak Links: Focus on removing any dead, diseased, or broken branches. These are the limbs guaranteed to snap first under the weight of snow or ice.

• Thin the Canopy (Wind Load Reduction): A dense canopy acts like a sail, catching all the wind, snow, and ice. Selective, professional thinning (called crown thinning) allows wind and precipitation to pass through the tree, significantly reducing the overall stress on the major limbs.

• Address Structural Defects: Look for co-dominant stems (trunks growing in a “V” shape rather than a strong “U” shape) and branches with narrow attachment angles. These weak points are prime candidates for splitting. A professional arborist can identify these defects and use structural pruning to correct them.

🛠️ Arborist Tip: If a branch is hanging over your home, garage, or driveway, have it professionally removed or reduced before it becomes a storm casualty. The cost of preventative pruning is far less than the cost of a damaged roof.

View More About Our Tree Trimming Services!

 

2. The Evergreens: Tying and Wrapping

 

Evergreen trees and shrubs are particularly vulnerable to snow and ice damage because they hold their foliage all winter, giving snow a huge surface area to accumulate on.

• Tying Up Vertical Evergreens: Upright evergreens, such as Arborvitae or Junipers, can easily splay open under heavy snow.

  • Action: Gently tie the main leaders together using soft, flexible cloth strips or rope (avoid wire or thin string, which can cut into the bark). Start at the bottom and spiral up to create a compact shape that sheds snow.

  • Goal: The binding should be snug enough to hold the tree’s shape, but loose enough that it doesn’t girdle the trunk or branches.

• Burlap Protection for Vulnerable Trees:

  • Purpose: Wrapping young or sensitive trees (especially newly planted or thin-barked species like Maples) in burlap provides a windbreak, prevents moisture loss (desiccation), and protects against sunscald (damage from sun on frozen bark).

  • Application: Drive stakes around the tree and staple burlap to the stakes to create a protective barrier.

3. Newly Planted Trees: Staking and Guards

 

Young trees need extra support to prevent tipping, leaning, or damage to their vulnerable bark.

• Proper Staking (Temporary Support):

  • When to Stake: Only stake if the tree is leaning or if the root ball rocks in the soil. Trees need some sway to develop strong trunks and root systems.

  • How to Stake: Use broad, soft tree ties (not wire or thin rope) and attach them to one or two sturdy stakes driven outside the root ball. Ties should be low on the trunk and allow for slight movement.

  • Crucial Reminder: Stakes and ties must be removed after the first year to prevent girdling the trunk.

• Trunk Guards: Install plastic spiral guards or light-colored, paper tree wrap around the trunk of young trees to prevent sunscald and protect against gnawing rodents that seek cover under the snowline.

4. What NOT to Do During and After the Storm

 

While preparing beforehand is key, proper action during and after the storm prevents further damage.

• DO NOT Shake Ice/Snow: Never violently shake or beat a branch covered in frozen snow or ice. Frozen wood is brittle, and this action is more likely to cause a clean break or tear the bark.

• GENTLY Brush: If you must remove fresh, fluffy snow from evergreens, use a soft broom to gently push the snow upward off the branch, starting from the lower limbs.

• Stay Clear: Stay away from any tree with limbs weighed down by ice. The load is unpredictable, and limbs can snap at any moment.

 

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Don’t Wait for the Snow to Fall

 

Proactive, expert tree care now saves you time, money, and stress when the winter storms hit. Dormant pruning is a critical investment in the long-term health and safety of your property.

Ready to storm-proof your landscape? Contact Donovan Arborists today at (303) 623-8733 (TREE) or use our FREE ESTIMATE form! We look forward to hearing from you!