How To Spot Winter Damage On Your Trees

With the changing of the seasons, there’s often excitement around cooler weather, and the ability to go outside without being scorched by the sun. We all look forward to new activities and seeing our loved ones around the holidays. Something that is can be forgotten is that winter can be a hard time for the trees on your property. Different types of trees and different types of weather can severely impact the health of your tree and how they do in the coming year.

How To Inspect Your Trees

Check For Root Damage

• • • Just like your indoor plants when they aren’t receiving enough nutrients they begin to wilt and slump over. Trees do the same when not receiving adequate resources. Check your tree’s roots to make sure they are properly covered and haven’t received any damage. If they have this may be a sign that the tree, and its branches, are compromised, and you should call in an expert for review.

Check Your Leaves

• • • While large flat leaves fall off after changing color in the fall. Evergreens stay permanently and are a key indicator of tree health. The color of the needles should stay consistent and green throughout. If you notice that the ends have turned brown this may be an indication of rapidly changing temperatures and the need to keep a more active eye on your trees.

Check For Rodents

• • • While some people love the cute cuddly possums, moles, squirrels, and owls. They can do damage to your tree both inside and out. When times get tough during the winter some rodents will start to eat the bark off of a tree. It’s up to you to decide on how to handle this. Always check your tree for bark being eaten, and call in a landscaping team or pest control should it get out of control.

Weather

• • • Weather can change fast and often. Large swings in temperature when the weather is finally turning when spring is coming. You may see buds start to peak out then the tree is hit with a late frost. While not preventable it can cause the tree’s health to suffer.

Human Damage

• • • During early winter or when spring is arriving you may have good days where children want to use the swing / tire swing attached to the branches of a tree. This is can be dangerous for people you care about but also the tree as well. Branches are in a depleted state after a long winter and are not in the best condition to take on extra weight so suddenly.
    • Make sure that no one plays on or around trees that are covered in ice and snow.
    • If damage has occurred, hire a professional, especially when conditions are not optimal.

Splitting Wood

• • • Water is the 8^th wonder of the world. It wiggles its way into tiny cracks you’ve don’t see and can be absorbed or keep a tree cool during the summer. During the winter it can turn deadly.
    • Water on the outside of the tree, like snow and ice, can worm its way into the outer part of the tree and become frozen, expanding, and breaking through exposing parts of the core to the elements.
    • A tree retains water inside the tree as well. In extreme cases, the water inside can free and cause damage from the inside out. This is why it’s recommended not to water your trees as often as you did during the summer.

As always, If you see signs of an unhealthy tree on your property you want to make sure you call an expert during the winter. Make sure to keep an eye out and let us know if we can help in any way.