RSS
Home
Are your trees ready for winter?
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
(This article is courtesy of David Merriman of ArborScape Services).jpg)
Hard to think about winter with the warm weather we had over Halloween. However, it is an example of Colorado's extreme temperature variations that cause trees to crack and dry up. Remember that heat causes materials to expand and cold causes them to contract and you will understand the main point of this article.
Winter is a time where trees, especially young and thin-barked trees, are damaged by wide temperature swings. On a sunny winter day, the bark temperature of your tree can increase 20 degrees above the air temperature. When the sun is blocked by shadows, the bark temperature drops rapidly, killing the active tissue. Also a warm day can give way to near zero temperatures within a couple of hours. Either way, cracked areas at the bark level or beneath begin to form drying out the tree and causing leaves or pine needles to appear brown or discolored.
Young trees, newly planted trees, and thin-barked trees are most susceptible to this process, called sun scald. Trees that have been pruned to raise the lower branches, or transplanted from a shady to a sunny location are also sensitive because the lower trunk is no longer shaded. This condition, can kill a tree and make it vulnerable to toppling by snow.
Other tree damage factors are elevated during winter. If your tree is near a road or walkway, salt and other chemicals used for deicing can cause discoloration. Magnesium chloride is especially dangerous to evergreens like pine, spruce and juniper. Winter food shortages force squirrel and deer to feed on bark, sometimes killing trees and shrubs. Finally, very wet and heavy snow can cause permanent tree deformity or worse.
A certified arborist has techniques to add an an ounce of prevention to winter tree damage. ArborScape has a variety of services such as tree-wrapping, bark cutting, pruning, winter watering and mulching that help your tree have a snug and safe winter.
For more information or to set an appointment for a free estimate on your winter watering or any other tree services, call 303-795-2381.
www.arborscapeservices.com
www.arborscapeservices.com
More About:
Home Maintenance
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
This time of year with the cold and wind we are often looking for alternative methods for heating, to save money or improve the comfort of our living …
The certified arborists at ArborScape Services have put together a full planning calendar for winter, available by clicking here. Listed below are …
- Ace Hardware
- Lighting Liquidators
- Kitchen Cabinet Superstore (1696 W Evans Ave)
- Do-It-Ur-Self Plumbing
- Habitat Home Improvement Outlets
