You can keep your trees healthy this winter by gently removing snow and remembering these other care tips.
Winter is the coldest time of the year and everyone wants to stay inside and get warm. Your trees and shrubs also want to seek comfort during this time of year and can have a challenging time surviving winter intact if you do not take some preventative measures before the worst weather arrives. At Scientific Plant Service, we can help you understand the services that can keep your trees healthy this winter. This includes pruning, applying anti-desiccant, and removing snow and ice from your trees and shrubs.
Tree Trimming and Pruning for Shape and Structure
As the growth of your trees slows down, and deciduous tree leaves are no longer in the way in winter, branch visibility improves. Arborists can then more easily prune your tree to direct future growth and prevent weak branches from breaking off due to snow or ice. Removing dead, diseased, weak, or broken branches by pruning is best because the arborist finds the best spot to prune the branch from the tree.
Winter Soil Care
Fertilize Trees and Shrubs
Trees can lose nutrients throughout the year. A slow-release fertilizer application in late fall or winter can supply those nutrients and improve your trees’ resistance to diseases, insects, and harsh winter weather.
Keep Rock Salt Away
Rock salt used to melt snow and ice on surfaces can also damage your trees. Excess salt can penetrate your soil, upsetting the water balance between soil and roots. You will notice this dehydration when needles or leaves are yellow or burnt-looking. Use sand or ashes on your surfaces if possible. If you use salt, spread the salt from the center outward to avoid the edges near your landscape.
Protect Trees and Shrubs
Wrap Tree Trunks
Some trees can benefit from extra protection. A burlap tree wrap can help young trees with thin bark. This wrap prevents damage from herbivores like deer, rabbits and voles. The wrap also prevents sunscald and frost cracks, which occur when the tree’s bark is harmed after the sun’s warmth is followed by sudden cold temperatures after sunset.
Apply Anti-Desiccant to Evergreens
Winter is very dry, so trees can suffer from moisture loss. You can keep evergreen trees healthy in winter by using anti-desiccants. You can prevent drying by applying an anti-desiccant to lock in moisture and slow water loss. It’s best to use desiccant when the tree is dry and the temperature is above freezing.
Gently Remove Snow
When you spot branches hanging heavy with snow, your first instinct may be to shake it off. However, the best thing to do is to let the snow melt and give the branch a chance to recover. If there is ice, this is especially true. Do not try to remove ice alone, or you could worsen the damage. If the snow has just fallen and is light, you can use a soft broom to gently brush the snow off evergreen branches by sweeping upward.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.