During the winter, it’s important to be aware of major storm events and understand the impact they have on your trees. High winds, snow buildup, and icy rain can be hard on certain trees leading to critical damage. That’s why the ISA certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Experts would like to provide you with the following Sonora tree care tips for winter damage.
Assess the Damage
Before assessing your trees for any damage, it’s essential to inspect your property for any hazards. High winds and heavy snow can rip power lines from their supporting poles, exposing live wires. If you spot any tangled or downed power lines, it’s important to stay as far away from them as possible and immediately contact your local power company. Additionally, it’s important to inspect your trees for any fallen or broken branches. Even the slightest gust of wind can cause a broken branch to come crashing down. That’s why, it’s essential to avoid any damaged trees and contact the certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Experts to remove these branches promptly.
Don’t Shake the Branches
Once you’ve assessed the damage, you may want to shake the branches of a tree to remove any snow buildup. However, this is something you should never do. The branches of a tree are much more flexible than they look. Attempting to knock or shake the snow off can actually snap them back and cause sudden breakage or harm. If snow must be removed, it’s important to gently push upwards on a branch with an extension pole to relieve it of the additional weight.
Pruning
Pruning after a storm helps to minimize the amount of damage caused to a tree. A tree may need to be pruned to remove broken branches in order to prevent further damage to its crown. Pruning can not only improve a tree’s future growth but reduce the potential for decay while safeguarding it against disease and insect infestations. However, it’s important not to take on the task of pruning a tree yourself. Pruning a tree is dangerous work that must only be done by the ISA certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Experts.
When to Call the Professionals
The ISA certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Experts can assess the situation and develop a recommended treatment plan for your trees. If your trees become damaged due to a winter storm, it’s essential to contact us as soon as possible so we can visit your property and ensure any damage is minimized. We have specialized tree care equipment and professional training to minimize risk from damaged trees.
Sonora Tree Care
The most effective protection for your trees is to ensure that they are healthy and well maintained. At Westcoast Tree Experts, we recommend annual pruning to create healthy trees that are better able to withstand winter storms successfully. Typically this is the best time of year to prune your trees as they are in a dormant state.
If you have any questions or would like to speak to the certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Experts about any of our Sonora tree care services, contact us by filling out our online form or give us a call at 1.800.767.8733. We would be more than happy to assess the trees on your property and provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation quote.
