When you have invested time and effort on your Guelph garden and watched your trees grow and flourish year after year, you don’t want to see them destroyed by harsh winter weather. Especially if you know there are steps you can take to keep them safe.
We’re taking a closer look at the steps you can take to help keep the trees on your property safe from the harsh winter conditions. Ensuring you fully enjoy the full potential of the beauty of the tree come springtime.
Assess – Preventative measures can help minimize damage during a storm. Have your trees assessed by a Guelph tree service company, like Martin’s Tree Service, before the winter to see if there are any structural issues, dead or dying branches, and weak points that need to be addressed.
Prune – Pruning is essential for the structural integrity, health and safety of any tree. Winter is the ideal time to prune trees to correct structural defects and remove dead or dangerous branches that could break off in a storm, potentially damaging both the tree and your property.
Support – Strong winds, heavy snow, and ice build-up can damage tree branches but good structural support can help minimize the risk. A Guelph tree service company can examine your trees and advise you on how best to support any at-risk branches during the winter.
Remove – Remove any snow from treetops as soon as possible. This can be a risky business and you need to be extremely careful. When you remove the snow, be aware of any ice that is coating the branches. Do not try to remove the ice because by doing this you could break branches or damage the bark. If you do not have the correct tools or are unsure of what you are doing, it is best to hire a professional arborist to carry out the work.
Prevent – Extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations can cause frost cracks in plants and trees. Smaller plants can be covered with cold weather blankets but obviously, this is not practical for large trees and it may be necessary to apply a chemical spray to reduce the risk of damage. Evergreens can be sprayed with a polymer coating to help protect them from cold drying winds, prevent winter burn and reduce transpiration (water loss). Consult a Guelph tree service company to find out more about winter sprays that can be applied to protect your trees from harsh weather conditions.
Mulch – Two or three inches of mulch around the base of trees will help seal in moisture, insulate the roots and protect them from cold damage, but remember to leave a small gap around the trunk to allow for air circulation. You can chip pruned branches to use as mulch.
Guard – Wrap trunks and stems to protect them from hungry animals in the winter. Smaller trees can also be wrapped in burlap to prevent damage from high winds. The best way to do this is to place three to five stakes in the ground to attach the burlap too. Make sure there is enough space between the tree and the burlap so that the branches don’t freeze to the material.
Water – Make sure that your trees receive plenty of water in late fall. This will help them maintain their water levels through the winter and prevent them from drying out.
Depending on your knowledge and gardening expertise, there are plenty of measures that you can take to protect your trees against the cold. But to be certain you have all your bases covered, consult a Guelph tree service company to assess your trees and advise you on the best course of action. Dangerous jobs, like the removal of large trees, pruning of bulky overhanging branches, and clearing of snow from treetops, are best left to a professional company, like Martin’s Tree Service, that has the correct tools, safety equipment, and expertise to do the job properly.
Steve Martin
