Many wonder how trees survive in colder weather, and how they prepare for when the temperatures dip. It may be difficult to tell whether a tree is in hibernation or it has died. Below, learn when you should call a professional tree service for help removing or protecting your tree during the colder weather. 

How Do Trees Protect Themselves? 

Trees begin preparing for the cold long before the advent of winter. In fact, you may have noticed them making the change in the late summer, and the physiological signs at this stage are obvious. One of those signs is the leaves changing color and dropping off the trees.

Trees rely on sunlight to produce stores of their food source, starch, and chlorophyll, which is the pigment that gives leaves their green color. When winter comes around, they’re exposed to less sunlight, so they stop producing these pigments entirely. After this, they go dormant. In this dormant state, they use their stores of starch to survive until the season passes. 

What Damage Can Winter Weather Do to Trees?

Regardless of the molecular changes that occur, sometimes the cold and inclement weather can prove too much for trees. Each tree, no matter its size or species, has a temperature tolerance. If the temperature falls below what a tree can tolerate, it can cause serious damage or even death.

Trees can also be damaged by sudden shifts in temperature. If the sun warms the surface of a tree during the day, it activates dormant tree cells. These now-active tree cells may freeze once the temperature suddenly drops back down at nightfall. This can result in “sun scalding,” which is when the affected bark will change color and eventually crack and fall off the tree. You can prevent this from happening to your trees by wrapping crepe paper tree wrap around their trunks, or by painting the trunks with diluted white latex non-oil based paint. 

Additionally, the weight of the heavy rainfall on a tree during the winter can eventually damage or break off the tree’s limbs. However, a professional tree service can prune and extract the dead limbs from your trees to keep them in optimal health. 

If you’re looking for a professional and reliable tree service in Hinesville, GA, contact Rick’s Tree Service Inc. Whether you have a residential or commercial property, they can provide you with a wide array of services, from stump grinding to storm removal services. For more information, give them a call at (912) 617-4880 or visit them online.