Tree recovery from ice can become very important this time of year in the Frisco, Grapevine and Southlake area. Here in North Texas, we may not see record snow fall…but it is likely at some point we will see ice. Tree trimming can take place before an ice storm or after. Trimming trees before an ice storm can help prevent the loss of larger limbs or the entire tree.
Ice is of course heavier than snow and can cause tree limbs to break, crack and it can even separate entire trees. Making sure your trees are trimmed will lower the chances of your trees losing limbs or being completely destroyed. However, even if your trees are pruned properly and trimmed, ice can still cause damage to them.
How you handle the damaged trees after an ice or snow storm will impact the trees ability to recover. If you find your trees covered in ice, we have a few tips for your tree health. You can of course, contact us for tree removal or tree trimming services at any time.
Removing Ice or Snow
If you trees or shrubs are covered in ice or snow, there is a specific way to remove the snow. Always sweep upwards. Start from the bottom and work you way up using a broom to sweep off the limbs. If the snow is iced on to the branches or if we only had an ice storm, let the ice melt naturally. Do not shake the tree to try and remove snow or ice, this will only increase the chance of tree damage.
It is difficult to help a large tree covered in snow or ice due to the size. If you have larger trees that you can’t reach on a regular ladder, then the best thing to do is wait. Wait until the snow and ice have melted and access the damage to the tree.
Pruning a Damaged Tree
Hire an ISA Certified Arborist to inspect the tree and consult on the best path to recovery for your tree. This could include tree trimming, fertilizer and watering.
Most trees can be pruned or cut after ice damage, however, knowing where to prune them back is incredibly important to the long-term health of the tree. Pruning in the wrong place can lead to decay, future storm damage and even tree death.
Don’t over prune your tree. Leave as many limbs as possible. If you trim too many limbs, the tree has a harder time feeding itself through photosynthesis that takes place in the leaves. After pruning a tree may appear unbalanced, especially if large sections of the tree were lost due to ice or snow. If this is the case, don’t worry, the tree will fill back in within a couple of years.
