Snow load and tree damage

One question we get asked a lot is how much weight from snow load can tree branches take over the Fall and Winter, especially old or damaged ones?
 
Well typically a light covering of snow isn’t harmful and in some cases the ice can protect against some of the drying-out that can happen with those cold, dry winter winds. With heavier loads, deciduous trees such as alder, birch, and maple, and some evergreens like spruce or white pine do have the strength and flexibility to withstand substantial snow weight. But evergreens with multiple trunks or multiple stems, such as cedar or paper birch do tend to be more prone to damage and breakage from excessive snow loads.
 
So what can you do if snow and ice build-up on your trees?

Letting snow melt off your trees naturally is usually the best thing to do as clearing snow from branches can be dangerous for us and you can unwittingly cause damage to your trees. If you are concerned about the snow load on smaller trees, you can use a broom or something similar to gently remove some of the snow, but if they’re covered in ice, wait for it to melt; badly drooping branches could easily break if you try removing ice from them.

To protect your trees from snow, ice, and winter winds, you can try the following:

• Wrap small trees like cedars; use twine rather than burlap. Older trees do not need to be wrapped. 
• Ongoing year-round care will help keep trees safe and strong.
• Use water and mulch on younger trees until late fall to keep them healthy and resilient.
• Prune mature trees regularly to remove hazardous branches and create a strongly tree structure.

A qualified professional company like Quantum Tree Services can help with all of this. Give us a call and we’ll check out your trees and get them ready for winter!