Winter Tree Protection: Essential Care During Dormant Months

Urban Trees and Cold Weather

Winter poses several challenges for urban trees in Union City, particularly with regard to cold weather.

Trees will experience varying degrees of cold damage based on their species, growing locations, and cold hardiness. Therefore, understanding cold hardiness can assist in predicting or preventing ccold-weatherdamage to trees.

Temperature fluctuations are very typical in the Union City area, and such variations in temperature tend to increase the risk of tree damage.

Evergreen foliage and branches undergo winter desiccation when the frozen ground does not allow for water absorption, while at the same time, dry winds continue to remove moisture from these areas. Such a silent stress factor is typically not apparent until spring.

Sun Scald

When exposed to direct sunlight on sunny winter days, tree bark warms; however, once the sun sets and the temperature drops, the bark freezes and causes damage to the living tissue under the bark. The repeated cycles of warming and freezing cause lasting damage to the tree.

Preventative Winter Care

The focus of professional winter care is the prevention of common cold-weather-related damages to trees:

• Spraying or applying an anti-desiccant will help to maintain moisture levels within the evergreen foliage throughout the winter months by reducing the amount of moisture lost from the needles and leaves.
• Correct mulching around the base of the tree will prevent extreme temperature fluctuations from being absorbed by the root system. Proper mulching practices will also avoid common mulching mistakes, which can damage trees.
• Wrapping young trees using specialized materials will protect sensitive bark from damage due to sun scald and animals during the winter months.

Benefits of Dorman Season Pruning

Pruning of trees during the dormant season provides several benefits:

• Tree disease prevention improves because of the reduced ability of pathogens to spread through the tree during the colder months.
• Structural assessment is much easier to conduct when there is no foliage present, allowing for precise pruning decisions that improve the structure of the tree.
• Healing of wounds occurs quickly as soon as new growth begins in the spring. This timing enables rapid recovery from pruning cuts that were required.

Winter Tree Health

Salt Damage Prevention

Commonly used winter maintenance techniques can create salt exposure risks for urban trees:

• Contamination of the soil from road salt has negative effects on the root systems of trees. Measures to prevent this type of damage are available to protect sensitive root systems.
• The spray of salt from vehicles driving down streets directly harms branches and buds. Barriers placed strategically will help to limit the exposure of street-side trees to the salt.
• Alternatives to traditional de-icing methods should be used near valuable trees in order to minimize the impact of salt. Recommendations from professionals are available to aid in protecting trees while maintaining winter safety.

Preparing for Winter Storms

Proactive care can help to mitigate the damage caused by winter storms:

• Installation of cable and bracing systems will support vulnerable branches. A professional will identify trees that require structural support based on the vulnerability of the branches.
• Removal of dead wood from trees will eliminate hazards. Inspection of trees in the winter will reveal branches that need to be removed immediately.
• Techniques for managing snow loads will prevent branch failure. Snow can be properly removed from trees without causing further damage.

Assessing Winter Risks

• A site-specific risk analysis will identify potential problems for trees on your property. Based on the conditions of your property, a professional will assess the risks and provide recommendations to protect your trees.
• Protection planning will develop targeted approaches to mitigate identified risks. Solutions to address the specific winter challenges will be developed based on the results of your site-specific risk analysis.
• Monitoring of winter stressors will track how trees are responding to the winter environment. Professionals will monitor the status of your trees in the winter and alert you to any emerging problems.

Call to Schedule an Arborist Visit

To develop a winter tree protection plan for your trees, contact Union City Tree Experts. We have certified arborists who will assist you in developing a winter tree care program.