In winter, the leaves of your maples and oaks and other deciduous trees have fallen, and even the evergreens have slowed down a bit. This makes it easier to look for potential problems. Some of these problems are peculiar to winter. Here are some of them.
Browned or Bleached Evergreen Needles
Winter burn happens to your evergreen trees, which don’t go completely to “sleep” in the winter and are more subject to winter damage. It causes the needles of these trees to turn brown or look bleached. This can happen when the sun warms up the tree during the day, but the cold of the night kills the revitalized tissues. It can also happen when the sun destroys the plant’s chlorophyll, and the temperatures grow too cold for the plant to recover. Sudden, brutal cold can also kill the tree’s tissues. One way to protect your evergreens is to cover their windward side, the side that faces south or southwest, with burlap.
Gnawed Bark
In winter, when food is scarce, some critters will resort to eating tree bark. Deer can also reach up and eat tree branches. If this is extensive, it can kill your tree. To protect your trees from this, surround them with chicken wire or use approved animal repellents.
Salt Deposits
The de-icing salt that’s spread on sidewalks, over roads and over your own walkways and driveway can badly hurt your trees during the winter. You might not even see the damage until the tree starts to leaf out, and its leaves and flower buds are stunted. One way to prevent this is to use de-icing salt made of calcium chloride as opposed to sodium chloride, also called rock salt. Calcium chloride is not harmless, but it’s much less damaging than sodium chloride.
Broken Branches
Winter temps can get below freezing. A rare snow or ice storm can cause branches to snap. Make sure to brush off snow if it falls. However, if a branch is heavy with snow or ice and is hanging over power lines or property, call the arborist to remove it.
Cracks, Cavities and Damaged Sapwood
These imperfections can be seen most easily in the winter and can be signs of a serious problem with your tree. Call in an arborist to diagnose and treat.
The beginning of the year, when your trees are dormant, is a good time to search for and troubleshoot potential problems. If you ever need a tree service consultation, don’t wait to call our skilled and professional arborists at Urban Tree Management of Woodside, CA.
