Common Winter Issues for Trees

Anelia’s Tree Corner

Interesting facts and tree care tips from certified arborist Anelia Tichkova

Common Winter Issues for Trees

There are a number of common tree problems that occur in the winter so tree care is essential to ensure trees stay healthy.

Frost Heaving - Frost heaving occurs when soil freezing and thawing happens repeatedly. As a result, the soil moves and pushes sometimes tree roots above the ground which can leave roots exposed and weakened. A layer of mulch in the fall around the tree can serve as an insulator and can protect roots from exposure and damage.

Winter Drought - This condition is actually very common and it happens when trees lose more water than they can absorb from the frozen ground. Evergreen trees are especially susceptible to drying out as they lose water through their needles in the dry winter air. As a prevention, water your trees thoroughly in the fall, and apply a layer of mulch around the stem to help out with moisture retention.

Sunscald - Similar to sunburn but for trees, this condition is caused when the tree bark is heated up by the sun on a cold day but then there is a sudden change of temperature once the sunshine is gone. The tree is not able to regulate itself and the inner cells activated initially by the heat are damaged, resulting in deep cracks in the tree bark.

Delicate trees should be wrapped up for the winter, especially trees with south or southwest exposure.

Salt Damage - The salt used on roads and sidewalks during the winter can leak into the soils and can cause severe decline in the trees’ health. It can also harm the branches of evergreens directly and burn the foliage.

Try to aim for more eco-friendly de-icing alternatives to salt. If you end up using salt, always shovel well first and then use a small amount.

Animal Damage - Food and resources are scarce for animals during the winter and some of these animals, including rabbits, deer, rats, and mice sometimes target the bark of trees.

Prevention includes some sort of protection, especially for young trees, such as metal mesh or any other type of a tree guard wrapped around the stem.

Snow and Ice Breakage - Snow, ice or wind can pose a high risk for trees and sometimes make it unbearable for tree branches to resist the pressure. Regular “crown cleaning” pruning technique is recommended which involves selective removal of dead, diseased, broken, or weakly attached branches from a tree crown. Trees are resilient and if we choose to plant native trees that are suited to local climate, they have a higher chance to withstand winter conditions. With the changing climate in recent years, it is also a good idea to consider species with a broad range of environmental adaptability so they can persist in altered conditions in the coming decades.