Now that winter is here, it’s a great time to learn more about essential tree care to help your trees survive snow, ice, and stormy weather. Although mature trees are highly resistant to injury and illness and dormant during the colder months, they can still experience a wide range of problems. Here's what you should know about the effects winter weather can have on trees as well as when to schedule tree removal to protect your property.

What Are the Most Common Forms of Winter Tree Damage?

The simplest, and perhaps most common, issue trees face in the winter is limb loss. When heavy snow and ice pile up on branches, they can injure and weaken branch attachments, causing limbs to break off and fall to the ground. Even in cases where the limb doesn’t completely separate, it could be severely injured and fall without warning at other times of the year.

Other common issues include sun scald and frost cracking, forms of bark damage caused by alternating freezing and warm temperatures. You may also notice tree roots becoming exposed over the course of the winter due to soil heaving, a phenomenon involving repeated freezing and contraction of soil which can push roots into the open air.

Why Should You Remove Winter-Damaged Trees?

If detected early enough, it may be possible for a tree care specialist to diagnose and treat common wintertime tree injuries. However, in many cases the damage is often already too severe and the affected tree must be removed.

The primary reason for removing dead or damaged trees is to prevent injury, property damage, and harm to healthy trees and shrubs nearby. For example, even smaller branches can be very heavy and cause serious injuries when falling onto people below. Similarly, falling limbs and toppled trees can damage roofing, power lines, and other structures.

In addition, injured and dying trees are often more susceptible to pest activity, disease, and fungi, all of which may spread to nearby plants. Unless removed at the first opportunity, one damaged tree can lead to widespread disease and pest problems.

For expert winter tree care services, you can count on Rivertown Tree Service in Hastings, MN. Serving homeowners throughout south Minneapolis and the Hager City area for over 40 years, they offer everything from tree trimming and removal to stump grinding, and land clearing. Call (651) 438-3704 to discuss your needs with a helpful representative today, and visit their website to learn more about their work.