Managing Your Trees After A Winter Storm

Winter in Southeast Wisconsin is often picturesque, with snow-covered landscapes creating a winter wonderland. However, contrasting this scenic beauty, winter can also create problems for trees and shrubs. Snow and ice accumulations during a winter storm can cause significant damage to your landscaping, necessitating careful pruning, cabling, or even removal and replacement to maintain the beauty of your property. This article will explore the options for managing the effects of snow and ice damage on trees and shrubs and explore the best practices for their care.

First, it is important to understand how winter storms can damage trees.  Snow and ice accumulation on tree branches can add substantial weight, causing them to bend, break, or even audibly snap under pressure. Additionally, freezing temperatures can cause tree tissues to become brittle, causing branches to break instead of bending while bearing heavy loads.  These factors can weaken the structural integrity of trees and shrubs, making them vulnerable to further damage or subsequent disease and insect issues.

Common types of tree damage include:

1. Branch Breakage: Heavy snow or ice can cause branches to break off, particularly in trees with weak, decayed, or brittle wood. This damage not only affects the tree’s appearance but also compromises its health and stability.

2. Splits in Trunks or Branches: The weight of accumulated snow and ice can split tree trunks. This creates a weakened structure which can fail immediately or even long after a storm has passed. The cracks can also create open wounds susceptible to pests and diseases. This type of damage often requires prompt attention to prevent further damage to a tree and to address safety issues that could otherwise linger unresolved.

3. Crown Damage: Ice or snow accumulation on a tree’s crown isn’t always consistent. Some portions of a tree may be heavily affected while other parts are unaffected. This can result in a misshapen or lopsided tree.  Beyond the tree’s appearance, this can force the tree to use its reserved energy when rebuilding its photosynthetic needs (leaves) during subsequent growing seasons.

4. Root Damage: In addition to above-ground damage, snow and ice can also affect tree roots, especially in shallow-rooted species. If the roots and soil cannot stabilize the tree when a storm hits, the heavy snow or ice loads can partially or completely uproot large trees or evergreens that are unable to remain rooted due to the stress on the above-ground parts of the tree.

How can trees be managed after a winter storm?

Immediately after a winter storm, the best first step is to assess the extent of damage.  This will help you take the appropriate actions to start dealing with the aftereffects.  The next step, and a major focus, is to mitigate risk.  If branches or trees are blocking driveways or lying on structures, these will take priority in clean-up efforts.  Carefully review trees near areas where people frequent as well as those around structures to identify potential risks such as hanging branches, fresh cracks in trees, or trees that may be leaning because of the storm.  Make use of a knowledgeable ISA Certified Arborist to help you review your trees.  They can often identify damage that may not be easily recognizable to the unfamiliar eye.

Often, damaged trees can be corrected with pruning or supplemental support.  Pruning takes out broken or damaged branches, improving the safety around the tree.  When pruning, it’s crucial to make proper ‘target cuts’ to avoid creating long term issues from decay caused by improper cuts such as flush cuts or stub cuts.

In cases where trees have sustained significant structural damage, cabling or bracing may be required to support weak branches and prevent them from falling. Cabling often involves installing flexible steel cables between branches to provide additional support and stability. This technique can help prolong the life of damaged trees and reduce the risk of further damage during future storms.

When a tree needs to be removed:

While pruning and cabling can address many types of damage, there are situations where removal or replacement may be needed.  When removing damaged trees, it’s essential to hire a professional arborist with the proper liability and workers compensation insurance so if something does go wrong during a tree removal, your association has the proper protections in place ahead of time.  Hiring Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Accredited companies provides peace of mind when hiring a tree care company.  Accredited companies have gone through a rigorous review ensuring the necessary insurances, protections, and safety procedures are in place to provide the best service for you!

Once a tree is taken down, you may consider replacing it with a species suited to the local climate and soil conditions.  This step can help prevent future damage and enhance the resilience of the landscape.

What kinds of replacement trees should be used?

Choosing the right tree species is key to improving the future value and aesthetics of the property.  Oftentimes, using native species well-adapted to the area are generally a good choice. Some examples include Bur Oak, Serviceberry, Musclewood, Sugar Maple, Ironwood, and Hickory.

When adding new plants into the landscape, be sure to use the right plant for the right site.  Be aware of the full, mature size of the new plant to avoid future maintenance issues like continuous pruning to avoid roof or siding damage.

Finally, using an assortment of tree species improves the diversity of plants in the landscape.  With this recent snow, specific varieties of Arborvitae were affected by the snow more than other varieties.  By using different species and varieties of trees, you can minimize future issues from storm damage, as well as possible disease issues associated with monocultures.

To sum up:

Snow and ice damage can have significant effects on trees and shrubs in this part of Wisconsin requiring careful attention and maintenance to promote recovery and resilience. Pruning, cabling, and, in some cases, removal or replacement may be necessary to mitigate damage and to ensure the long-term health and safety of the landscape. By selecting resilient species and following proper care techniques, you can help your trees and shrubs thrive in the face of winter’s challenges.

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