Tips & Tricks

Winter Injury – Part 3: October 2019

Spring Freezes
Once spring growth has begun, a late spring frost can cause damage to de-acclimated woody stems, blossoms, and new shoots. Frozen, succulent, new tissue turns flaccid, appears water soaked, and withers within a short time. Though symptoms resemble blight diseases, freeze injury appears suddenly after a hard frost, while diseases such as bacterial fire blight, juniper blight, and pine tip blight are progressive over time.

Root Damage
Root tissues apparently do not acclimate to temperatures much below freezing and can be killed or severely injured by soil temperature below 15°F. This is especially true for shallow rooted plants. Fortunately, the presence of mulch, leaf litter, or snow cover insulates most soils sufficiently to prevent soil temperatures from falling much below freezing. Plants with frozen roots may wilt and decline after growth resumes in the spring.

Breakage From Snow & Ice
Snow and ice storms cause damage by bending and breaking branches. Multi-stemmed trees like arborvitae and junipers are the most prone to damage. To protect these plants from limb breakage prior to winter, tie branches together loosely with strips of cloth or coated twine. Remove in early spring.

The branches of many hardwoods, such as Siberian elm, maples, and birch, may be seriously damaged in ice storms. Improper removal of ice or snow from the tree or shrub might increase damage. Heavy snow should be removed gently before it freezes to limbs and branches. Removing ice encased on branches can cause additional damage and should not be attempted. Instead, allow ice to melt off naturally.

We’re Here To Help!
Top Tree LLC is your best choice for any tree trimming needs in Richland. All of our technicians are highly trained and properly certified. We are happy to answer any questions you have now or in the future.

Winter Injury – Part 3: October 2019 Read More »

Winter Injury – Part 1: October 2019:

The severity of winter damage is caused by a number of reasons, including the species involved, the location and conditions under which the tree is grown, and the exact timing of weather extremes during the dormant period. Contrary to popular belief, tree damage is not generally caused by an unusually cold winter. Low temperature injury is more often associated with extreme temperature fluctuation than with prolonged cold weather.

Temperature Extremes
Acclimation to temps far below freezing results from exposure to slowly dipping temperatures and other factors. Trees that are dormant but not fully acclimated can be stressed or injured by a sudden, hard freeze. Rapid or extensive drops in temperature following mild autumn weather cause injury to woody trees. Extended periods of mild winter weather can de-acclimate trees, again making them vulnerable to injury from rapid temperature dips.

Low Temps
Some species or cultivars of trees and shrubs are injured if temperatures fall below a minimum tolerance level. Plants most likely to suffer winter injury are those that are marginally hardy for the area or those already weakened by previous stress. Species such as rhododendron, holly, and some magnolias may survive several mild winters in the Chicago region before a more typical winter causes injury. Flower buds are often the most susceptible. If plants with marginal hardiness are used, they should be planted in protected sites, such as courtyards or sheltered areas. In general, low temperatures are much less damaging than rapid and extensive variations in temperature.

We’re Here To Help!
Top Tree LLC is your best choice for any tree trimming needs in the Tri-Cities. All of our technicians are highly trained and properly certified. We are happy to answer any questions you have now or in the future.

Winter Injury – Part 1: October 2019: Read More »

How Trees Benefit Us – October 2019

Here are some ways trees help our bottom line:

Trees Save Energy

They protect our homes from the sun in our homes so we use less electricity for air conditioning. That means fewer greenhouse gases need to be produced in generating power.

Lower Cooling Bills
Evergreens that block winter winds can save 3 percent on heating.

Trees increase a home’s value.
Homes in neighborhoods with mature trees sell for at least 10 percent more than in neighborhoods without trees. On average, each large front yard tree adds 1 percent to a home’s sales price. Large trees can add 10 percent to property value.

Trees are good for business.
Shoppers will travel farther to shop in tree-lined business districts and tend to spend more, according to research. In tree-lined commercial districts, shoppers report more frequent shopping, longer shopping trips, and willingness to spend 12 percent more for goods.

Trees pay us back.
The many things trees do for us have a great number of benefits. A single large tree produces benefits worth more than $2,500 over its 40-year lifespan. Each year, the more than 300 million trees in Washington State that provide services whose estimated total worth is $200 million by capturing air pollution, storing carbon, and reducing energy costs.

We’re Here To Help!
Top Tree LLC is your best choice for any tree trimming needs in Burbank. All of our technicians are highly trained and properly certified. We are happy to answer any questions you have now or in the future.

How Trees Benefit Us – October 2019 Read More »

Scroll to Top

Free Estimate

24/7 Emergency Service Available: 509.512-2521