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5 Common Winter Tree Care Issues

Winter can be a stressful time for trees. The extreme weather can cause all sorts of issues and it’s important to be prepared for them and know how to react. The more you know about winter tree care issues, the better able you will be to keep your trees healthy year-round.

Animal Damage

While some animals hibernate during winter, there are still plenty of animals that are active. And those active animals need to find a suitable habitat and most importantly, a food source.

During winter, food sources are naturally scarce for animals. There are no nuts available and most plants no longer have seeds or berries. While most animals are adaptable, when there is heavy snow on the ground, animals can have a hard time accessing the remaining leaves and grasses.

The result is that many animals, including mice and rabbits, will start feeding on bark. The resulting damage that is done is called girdling. Trees need their bark to protect the inner wood, especially in winter when there are extreme temperatures. Too much girdling and a tree could possibly be weakened beyond repair.

Thankfully, there is an easy to way to prevent animal damage to your tree. Before heavy snows, wrap your tree trunks with metal mesh. This will deter the animals from eating the bark.

Frost Heaving

When temperatures plummet, and especially when there is little moisture in the air, frost occurs. When this happens, the dirt around your trees actually moves. Roots in the ground are pushed upwards, which is known as frost heaving, and has two major consequences.

The first is a practical result. Trees that grow next to pathways and sidewalks can have their roots pushed up so that they move the surface above them. This damages the pathways and sidewalks. Not only will you have to remedy the situation in the future, but in the meantime this is a major tripping hazard.

The second consequence refers to the tree roots themselves. As the roots are pushed upwards, they undergo a lot of strain. They can end up breaking or splintering, thus depriving the tree of important nutrients.

The best way to prevent frost heaving is by adding a thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree. Mulch is a great insulator and will protect the soil below from frost. Just don’t place mulch right next to the tree trunk as it can lead to mold growth. At Nature’s Shade Tree Care, we provide mulch deliveries

Sunscald

While humans need to be really cautious about the sun’s rays in summer, trees need to be extra cautious in winter. Sunscald is similar to a sunburn, but for trees. In winter months, clear skies and bright sunshine can actually be quite warm. However, when this heat is suddenly removed, as thick clouds develop, a tree can’t regulate itself.

As a result, the inner wood of a tree can develop thick cracks in it. The tree’s cells that were activated by the heat aren’t able to adjust quickly enough to the absence of it, which is when damage occurs.

The only positive with this winter tree care issue is that sunscald is more common in southern locations. If you live in a southern region, be sure to wrap delicate trees to give them an extra layer from all the elements.

Snow and Ice Breakage

Winter storms are one of the major causes of winter tree care issues. Snow, ice, and wind can all create high levels of damage. While some issues can wait for spring, many of them need to be dealt with right away.

Large amounts of snow that accumulate quickly can be too much for tree branches to bear. While trees naturally bend under pressure, even they have their limits. While you certainly don’t need to shake your trees every time it snows, as this actually provides a layer of insulation, you might want to remove the snow if it is a large amount.

In some climate areas, freezing rain and ice storms are an issue. In this case, the temperature starts out above zero with rain falling, only to quickly drop to below freezing. The result is trees encased in ice. If this lasts for more than a few days, the ice can do real damage.

The extra weight of ice surrounding the whole tree can cause branches to break and limbs to fall. Furthermore, ice can cut off nutrient supplies to your tree, causing it to become quite weak.

Unfortunately, when an ice storm happens, there isn’t a lot you can do. Trying to chip away at the ice can cause more damage to the bark. It may take some time, but you have to just let the ice melt away naturally and hope there wasn’t too much damage caused. Just make sure you perform a thorough inspection after an ice storm to see if any branches are at risk of falling down.

If you live in a region that regularly has ice storms, there is a way to prepare for them. Tie branches of trees together in a loose fashion. You can use coated twine or strips of fabric. One spring comes around, you can untie the fabric.

Tree Drought

While we often think of massive snowdrifts in winter, the reality is that many regions experience a cold, dry winter. This is especially true at the beginning of winter. When the ground freezes, the water source of many trees also dries up. As a result, trees actually enter a state of starvation. If this lasts too long, permanent damage can be done.

Be sure to monitor your weather in winter. If there has been no precipitation for a few weeks, give your trees a good drink of water. They need a lot, in small amounts. You may have to water your tree every hour for a day or two in order for the roots to properly reach the ground water.

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4 Winter Tree Care Tips

When we think about trees in our yard, we often think about the growth of spring, the abundance of summer, and the beauty of fall. The bare branches of winter are not high in our love for trees so this season is often forgotten when it comes to winter tree care tips.

However, there are still plenty of tasks to complete in winter for optimal tree health all year round. Before deep winter sets in and the weather becomes too cold and too snowy, invest a bit of time in your yard and your trees. We guarantee that is will be worth it. To help you out, here are our top 4 winter tree care tips for 2020.

Protect Your Trees From Freezing

Some trees are better suited to cold weather than others. If you only have trees and plants that are native species, then you won’t have to worry about them freezing. However, if you have a more diverse garden, then your trees may not be able to survive the winter.

The first step is to know what gardening hardiness zone you are in. The second step is to know what zone your trees belong to. You can find this information at a local gardening center, or online.

If the zone you are in and the zone your trees belong to aren’t the same, then you should take further steps to winterize your tree.

You can use a mixture of materials to cover your trees. These include sheets, tarps, or burlap. Before the temperature drops, take the time to wrap each vulnerable tree.

The best way to wrap a tree is to use a frame so that the covering doesn’t actually touch the tree. The less contact there is, the more protection you will provide for your trees.

If you have shrubs, plants, or even saplings that are in pots, you will also want to take care of these. Potted shrubs don’t offer the same protection to the elements that plants dug into the ground have. Be ware of bringing potted plants and trees indoors, though. It can shock them too much, especially when you bring them outside again.

Instead, think about placing them in a more protected area outside. Either sheltered from the wind, or in a make-shift greenhouse are good options. 

Mulch Around the Base Of Your Trees

One of the most important winter care tips is to provide a thick layer of mulch around your trees. Mulch is organic matter, usually consisting of wood chips that are about 1-inch in size and leaf matter. Wood mulch takes about 3 to 6 months to break down. When it does, it releases much needed nutrients into the soil, including nitrogen.

Around each tree should be 3 to 5 inches of mulch. It should start 3 inches away from the base of the tree and extend up to 2 feet around in all directions. When completed, you should have a large circle of mulch around each tree.

If you have trees that shed a lot of leaves, start by raking this up and distributing it around the tree. If you have large leaves, you can always run a lawnmower over them, breaking them up into smaller pieces that break down easier.

The mulch rings should be even in height. While you might see rings that peak in the middle, like a volcano, it’s better to have it spread evenly.

Don’t Forget To Water

When we think about winter, we automatically think about snow. But in many areas, snow doesn’t really start to accumulate until January. November and December can be pretty dry months. Furthermore, when it is cold and dry out, a lot of moisture evaporates and your trees can start to suffer.

If you have newly planted, young trees, be sure to water them every week or two. Young trees need about 10 to 15 gallons of water. Young trees go through a lot of stress when they are transplanted so they need a lot of love and attention, even in winter.

Mature trees only need to be watered once a month. Give them about 10 gallons of water for every inch they measure in diameter. For example, if your tree is 10 inches in diameter then it needs 1000 gallons of water.

When you water your trees, it’s best to do so slowly. Give the trees and their roots plenty of time to absorb the water. You may need to water a mature tree multiple times throughout the day.

Even if you have some rain or snow, it’s always a good idea to check the soil around your tree. The moister it is, the more warmth it will absorb, which is then radiated out at night time.

Prune Your Trees

Towards the end of fall and the beginning of winter, trees start to become dormant. This is actually a great time to prune your trees.

Once the leaves have fallen, it’s actually easier to spot what branches should be pruned and which ones need to stay. The winter dormant season of trees really is ideal for pruning.

Pruning trees is incredibly important. It establishes a sounds structure to your tree that will keep it healthy in the future and prevent damage.

Important components of pruning your tree include removing dead and dying branches. You should also take the time to look for any diseased spots. The sooner you notice a diseased part of a tree, the greater the chance your tree can be saved.

If pruning your trees sounds too complicated, or you just don’t want to brave the cold, it’s best to contact a tree care expert.

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