While you know you need to prune, water, and fertilize your trees during the warmer seasons, you may not think about the care they need during winter. Cold weather and other winter factors can cause unwanted damage to your trees that need to be corrected by a tree service. Learn about some of the most common in the following list.

Common Winter Tree Issues

1. Cold Damage

When the temperature changes drastically from warm during the day to cold at night, the stress can cause your trees’ wood and bark to crack. This can be especially dangerous for trees that grow late in the fall months, as they don’t have enough time to prepare for the cold.

This damage can also manifest as winter burn, which is when evergreen foliage browns or bleaches during winter. Have your tree service company create burlap barriers to protect your trees from the sun.

2. Frost Heaving

When soil freezes, thaws, and refreezes repeatedly, it begins to swell upwards and can uproot small plants and even push up sidewalks. This affects your trees by weakening and damaging their roots, making them vulnerable to falling during heavy winter storms. Have your tree service company insulate the roots with mulch to mitigate the damage.

3. Winter Drought

Trees can have a difficult time drawing water out of the ground during freezing temperatures. When your tree loses more water than it can get from the ground, starvation may set in. This condition is especially common in evergreens. Mulch and regular watering can help prevent this issue.

4. Salt Damage

The rock salt used to defrost sidewalks and pavement can be transferred into your soil, which can, in turn damage your trees and shrubs. While the damage may not be immediately recognizable, the addition of salt to the soil can stunt your trees’ growth and disfigure their foliage. To prevent this issue, do your best to keep salt out of your yard by applying it after shoveling and switching to calcium chloride-based deicers.

5. Animal Damage

Trees become food for animals such as deer, rabbits, and mice during winter months. They eat the foliage, bark, and twigs, leaving your trees vulnerable to further damage and disease. You can protect your landscaping by surrounding it with metal mesh and applying a pest repellant to the surrounding area.

 

Hire North Carolina’s top tree care company to help your trees survive the winter by contacting H & H Tree Service in New London, NC. These fully licensed and insured arborists have been serving residents of the area for more than 23 years. Schedule a tree service to help prepare your yard for winter and prevent unwanted damage before the spring thaw. Learn more about this local business online or schedule a service by calling (704) 463-0353.