It’s February in New York without at least one heavy snowfall, and with that comes the risk of property damage if your trees aren’t quite up to the challenge. The same branches that provided you lots of shade in the summer are now catching all the snow and being weighed down to the point where you might have a winter tree emergency. Luckily there are some steps you can take ahead of time to prevent these winter tree emergencies, rather than waiting until a big snowy branch crashes through your living room.

Take some time before it snows to have an arborist prune back some of the branches on your trees, especially if they look dead or weak, and/or hang over your roof. Trees that are covered in vines or ivy are at higher risk as far getting weighed down with snow, so be sure to remove or have someone remove any invasive vines in your trees.

Risk Signs of Winter Tree Emergencies

• Dead areas – Dead wood is more brittle and prone to snapping.
• Decay – Hollow or decayed trees are not necessarily unsafe, but it is best to have a trained arborist evaluate any decay.
• Cracks –  Cracks indicate that a tree is not structurally sound, and can be made worse by the weight of heavy snow.
• Poor root stability – If a tree is not rooted properly into the ground it is more likely to blow over in heavy winds or snow
• Leaning – A leaning tree is not necessarily unsafe, but again, a trained arborist can assess if it poses a risk to your property.

If you have a possible winter tree emergency that involves powerlines or other hazards, make sure you call in a professional. Falling branches might hit wires and knock out your power, but attempting to prune those branches yourself can be very dangerous.

Westchester Tree Life can help you prepare for snow and prevent winter tree emergencies, just call our trained arborists at (914) 238-0069 or request a consultation here.

Source: Preparing Your Trees for Winter