Learn the best ways to remove any snow cover from your trees and shrubs.
A winter wonderland can sometimes look beautiful, but if heavy enough, snow can damage your trees and shrubs. While snow can often fall or melt off of your trees on its own, there are some instances in which you will have to be proactive and remove snow from trees yourself. Heavy snow cover can be a risk and can cause damage. Read on to learn how to prevent or limit that damage.
Tree Branches Are Bending or Sagging
If you notice that any branches are bending or sagging under the weight of snow , you may want to do something about it. If you decide to remove snow cover from trees, do it as soon as possible before it refreezes or breaks a branch or two.
There Are Important Structures Under Snow-Covered Branches
If any important structures or items are sitting below the snow-covered branches, it’s best to remove the snow as soon as possible. If the snow cover is left to weigh down the branches, it could break the branch and cause damage to your property under the tree. However, if the tree is too large for you to reach safely, you will want professional help removing the snow or any broken branches that may break off and cause damage.
How to Remove Snow Cover From Trees
So how can you safely remove snow from your trees? It depends on the type of snow. For instance, if the snow is heavy and thick, use a broom in upward sweeping motions to gently push the snow off the tree branches. Any ice or frostier snow patches that don’t easily brush off will have to melt naturally. If you try to remove those patches, you could cause more damage.
If the snow is light and freshly fallen, you can often remove it by gently shaking trees or shrubs. A handheld leaf blower can also help remove snow more efficiently.
Heavy snow is often a concern and can freeze and cause damage. But removal is not always a practical option. If any of your branches do break from the snow or ice, remove them quickly with a clean cut to ensure that the tree heals properly. If you have more questions about safe snow removal, winter tree care, or branch pruning, you can reach out to the experts at Scientific Plant Service.
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, and Pinterest.