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Ice Covered Branches - Do's and Don'ts

1/17/2020

29 Comments

 
PicturePhoto by George Bosela
With ice forecasted in the Omaha area, it's likely your main concern is how your commute  might be impacted. Trees generally aren't at the forefronts of our minds until something bad happens - a broken branch, a split trunk, or in extreme cases, a tree lying on a roof.

While you're out salting your sidewalk and notice your tree's branches are coated in ice, there are more "DO'S" than "DON'TS" involved in keeping your tree healthy. (Hint: Prevention is key!) Let's get the short list out of the way first:
​

DON'T SHAKE ICY TREE BRANCHES!

Simple. Trees coated in ice can be brittle and you'll do more harm than good. You can even damage a tree's circulatory system. While you might think the ice is weighing the tree down and should be removed, the branches are flexible and bent slowly to accommodate the extra weight. They should sustain this pressure without issue. Younger generally trees fare better in ice storms than older trees.

Now let's talk about what you can DO to increase your tree's resilience in an ice storm. Prevention is everything!
​

DO:

Split tree branchPhoto by Andreas Krappweis
  1. STRUCTURALLY PRUNE. Prune trees starting at a young age to prevent crossing branches and narrow branch angles. We tend to see a lot of damage in pear trees and the recently trendy autumn blaze maple because of their narrow branch angles. A trained, Certified Arborist can prune a tree at a young age (no younger than 5 years old) to encourage it to grow a strong "leader." Co-dominant branches and included bark are weak branch structures that can be prevented, but must be addressed at a young age.

  2. AVOID PLANTING TREES THAT ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ICE DAMAGE.
    1. Trees with very upright branching structures like arborvitae
    2. Multi-stem or "clump" trees like river birch
    3. Faster growing species like maple, versus slow-growing oak
    4. Trees that naturally tend to grow with narrow branch angles like pear, autumn-blaze or silver maple

  3. PRUNE DAMAGED BRANCHES WITH CARE. If a branch fails in an ice storm, how you remove the damaged branch goes a long way toward how the tree recovers. If a branch rips, do not rip the branch further or cut into the trunk if it has ripped all the way back at the base. Trees have their own natural abilities to "seal" around damage to prevent the spread of decay, but improper pruning cuts can interfere with these mechanisms. 
    ​
  4. CALL A CERTIFIED ARBORIST. (Preferably us!) A Certified Arborist is trained in the art and science of caring for trees. We KNOW things! If you don't have the proper tools or just don't know the best way to go about removing a damaged branch, call in a professional. Trees don't come with manuals, and that's why we're here to help.

  5. HAVE YOUR TREES INSPECTED REGULARLY BY A PROFESSIONAL. Having your trees inspected on a regular basis is important. Annually is best. An experienced Arborist has a keen eye that can spot structural issues, minor cracks and signs of weakness before the homeowner can.

  6. CALL THE UTILITY COMPANY IF NEEDED. Don't be shy. If a limb is close to a power line (within 10 feet) - it's better to be safe than sorry. Call your local utility company. Energized branches look no different than non-energized branches! 

29 Comments
Mateo link
1/21/2020 11:17:16 pm

First off, thanks for this article. It really helped me understand the importance of maintaining my plants during the winter time. Also, that was a great point about not shaking branches with ice. These are little bits of information that are so important for your safety and the safety of others. Sometimes, they seem a little obvious, but, any little mistake while working on your trees can have lasting repercussions.

Reply
Billings Tree Care link
1/27/2020 02:20:50 pm

I was living in Rochester, NY during the 1991 ice storm. If you aren't familiar with the magnitude of this ice storm, check out some pictures. The flora took one heck of a beating.

Reply
www.ppinestreeservices.com link
2/9/2020 11:33:18 pm

Ice is a part of landscape work we are lucky to not have to do. Hats off to you though because it sure looks dangerous. The worst we get in South Florida is the occasion cold temperatures that knocks iguana's off the trees and leaves them frozen stiff for a few hours. They're cold-blooded so cold weather really affects them!

Reply
Elgin Tree Care link
2/18/2020 09:58:05 pm

We are hit by ice storms all the time in the Chicago area mostly because the temperatures can drop extremely quickly and moisture will quickly turn to ice. Temperatures can stay below freezing for weeks at a time so you're right, it's best to let nature take care of itself and not interfere if it's not necessary.

Reply
Plant Tree Care link
2/27/2020 04:14:16 am

Well, first of all thanks for sharing your efforts. Secondly, your post is really intresting and informative related to tree removal. You can also vist "Robs Tree Pros" for more tree removal service in usa.

Reply
Tree Services link
3/20/2020 01:34:29 pm

Not shaking the icicles off the branches would seem like common sense, but alas, this day in age, you really have to inform everyone of the dangers!

Reply
Stump grinders Hamilton link
3/28/2020 09:28:04 am

A great blog you wrote and it is very helpful. Trees coated in ice can be brittle and you'll do more harm than good. Prune trees starting at a young age to prevent crossing branches and narrow branch angles. I read your blog, it's very informative. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Tree Pruning Papakaura link
5/18/2020 05:46:56 am

Such a nice blog on ice covered branches does and donts. To make us read a well curated article is written. Here you will get to know in detail about the topic which are in demand. I enjoyed a lot while reading this article and would recommend other too.

Reply
Tree Removal Costa Mesa link
8/8/2020 12:08:53 am

Thanks for providing this info! Our team learned a lot and will incorporate this into our daily routine :)

Reply
Levi Armstrong link
8/17/2020 09:20:41 am

It's great that you mentioned that I should call a certified arborist if I don't know how to prune or trim a tree and if I don't have the right equipment. The oak tree in our backyard is becoming too large, and I want to have the branches trimmed before it damages our roof. I'll follow your advice and contact a reputable and licensed tree trimming service to remove a couple of branches of the oak tree. Thank you!

Reply
Lynn Tree Care link
12/11/2020 10:06:45 pm

Ice can be such a pain for trees! It seems like every year a bad ice storm leaves either me or one of my neighbors with damage. Shaking trees is such a common misconception, I though it was supposed to help them since the ice and snow can get so heavy but I guess not. Thanks for clarifying! Very informative, I'll have to check out more of your posts.

Reply
Zachary Tomlinson link
1/6/2021 06:22:16 am

I find it amazing to learn that having your trees regularly trimmed or pruned can prevent tree decay and help maintain their health. My friend is looking for tips on how to take care of his home's trees. I should share this with him so he'd consider hiring trimming services for it.

Reply
pawtuckettreeservices link
1/31/2021 10:48:13 pm

Great share. Very good advice. Tree care, removal and safety are very important. Winter is great for destructive insects and infectious diseases but can effect how the tree growth and health. There's some old trees outside our yard that have large branches, we should keep an eye on those from now, it can be dangerous since they might cause injury to someone due to strong winds in this winter! the trimming or removal shall become necessary at some points every year. Best of luck!! Tim

Reply
treeservicesquincy link
1/31/2021 11:21:37 pm

Wow. This is actually what I am looking for in a content. Nice pointing out the summary for tree care and tree removal quincy ma during the winter. This greatly helps in maintaining the plant's proper growth. I think i will contact and consult with a prof tree removal service that can know how to care and maintain healthy trees in winter. If more homeowners know this, there would be a lot more strong and healthy trees in our areas. Goo Job!

Reply
www.charlottesvilletree.com link
2/5/2021 10:15:55 am

This is a good article and one people forget about. I've seen people do damage and get hurt by trying to shake the snow and ice off a tree branch-- they ge very heavy with even a little ice/snow. be careful, call a pro, and follow the tips on this page. Stay safe

Reply
Nathalie Portman link
3/17/2021 01:43:49 am

Best tips for tree maintenance. Thanks for sharing this wonderful article.

Reply
Larry Weaver link
4/12/2021 03:56:17 pm

Thanks for the tip to have your trees inspected annually by a professional. My neighbor has a drying tree in his front yard. I'll tell him to look for a professional that can take a look at his tree and to get it inspected annually.

Reply
Nicolas Avila link
5/5/2021 07:01:56 pm

Thanks for the share! I've learned so much with your article about tree service revere ma. It’s interesting to know the importance of maintaining our plants during the winter. We often cut and prune tree at the end of winter but over here in Quincy ma, we left the trimming services to a local contractor since we would like to maintain the health of some plants in our yard. They were very professional, friendly and communicative and got the job done perfectly.

Reply
Beatrice Jones link
5/19/2021 09:13:29 pm

Thanks for the share! I've learned so much with your article. It’s interesting to know the importance of maintaining our plants during the winter. We often cut and tree service quincy ma at the end of winter but over here in Quincy ma, we left the trimming services to a local contractor since we would like to maintain the health of some plants in our yard. They were very professional, friendly and communicative and got the job done perfectly.

Reply
Josh Steward link
5/26/2021 09:17:47 am

Best tips. Truly helpful. Thanks for sharing this informative article.

Reply
Henry Killingsworth link
6/25/2021 03:41:03 pm

Thank you for helping me to know that a trained arborist knows the science behind caring for a tree. It seems like it would be a good idea to have an arborist work on your trees at least once a year. Paying for this kind of work seems like the best way to keep your trees healthy.

Reply
Afton Jackson link
1/5/2022 05:53:51 pm

Your warning about icy tree branches was really interesting to read about. Winter is dying down around our area, and I wanted to take this opportunity to check on our trees to see how they're doing. To make sure we get maintenance done without any risks, I'll follow your tips about the icy tree branches and have a tree service handle this instead.

Reply
Certified Arborist link
3/6/2022 11:03:23 am

I owe you a debt of appreciation for this insightful post! It's wonderful to find posts that are both informative and educational. Because tree work can be dangerous, it should only be done by trained specialists.

Reply
John Carston link
4/26/2022 07:50:10 pm

I love that you talked that by doing something that you don't know could damage a tree's circulatory system. Last night, my wife told me that she planned to have the tree in our house removed because it is too close to our home, and she asked if I had any idea what could be the best option for safety purposes. Thanks to this helpful article, I'll be sure to consult trusted tree removal services as they can provide preventative measures.

Reply
tree mulching services near me link
10/3/2022 01:40:25 am

Nice article keep it up thanks for the article

Reply
Eli Richardson link
11/2/2022 09:58:54 am

We're excited about working in our garden next weekend, and since we'd like to add a few fruit trees to our design, we think it'd be wise to know more about their care. It's helpful to know how professional arborists are able to prune our trees' branches to improve their growth, so we'll keep this in mind for sure. Thanks for the insight on tree pruning and how if it's done in the right way, it enhances your trees' growth.

Reply
Braden Bills link
11/14/2022 09:12:04 am

There's a tree that I need to get trimmed, but I'm not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that I would want to be careful with frozen tree branches. It might be best for me to get a tree removal specialist to help me out with this.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
12/16/2022 06:45:51 am

Thank you for explaining that narrow branch angles can be prevented through early pruning. My friend wants to get their trees trimmed. I should advise her to hire an expert in tree branch trimming to ensure quality work.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
1/30/2023 01:56:17 pm

Thanks so much for talking about how much damage shaking the branches of a tree can be in the cold. My sister has a few fruit trees she's been trying to grow and she's worried about them not developing healthily. We've been looking into finding a tree pruning service to help her maintain the trees and promote their growth.

Reply



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Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service
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402-408-5600
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