2 Things To Avoid Doing To Your Trees In Cold Weather That Could Damage Them
From the pine trees that are often used for privacy to the tall hardwoods that provide shade and fruit trees that offer up food, every type of tree can be a valuable commodity on your property. While many homeowners will never give their trees a lot of attention, it is best to know how your trees should be treated, especially through the coldest months of the year. Here is a look at two common mistakes you should avoid in the winter to keep your trees protected from the cold.
Don't leave scars from broken limbs open.
Whether a limb breaks because of a storm or you have a dead limb that you had to remove, it is never a good idea to leave a large open scar on the trunk of a tree during the winter season. Some hardy hardwood trees will survive, but some of the more vulnerable trees, such as pine trees and fruit trees, cannot handle the frosty cold moisture that will seep in through the gaping wound. This can lead to portions of the tree sustaining damage during the coldest temperatures and your tree may not fully recover.
To avoid putting your tree at risk if it has lost a limb or two, there are a few things you can do to ward off the cold so all is not lost. For one, you can use a heavy-duty exterior paint to coat the opening of the tree trunk so the cold moisture cannot seep through. You can also purchase tree-sealing products that are specifically designed for this purpose. Secondly, you can protect the wounded portion of the tree when you know the temperatures are going to drop by wrapping it with a piece of heavy plastic or cloth.
Don't trim the branches during cold weather.
Even though your trees appear dormant in the winter, they are still going through a vital life cycle, and interrupting this cycle by trimming the branches is not a good idea. Opening up the ends of branches shocks the live branches when the temperatures get below freezing. This means that come spring, their growth can be stunted and they may never grow correctly at all.
Instead, make sure you have your trees professionally trimmed at the appropriate time of year for the specific tree type. For example, it can be better to trim some hardwoods during spring just before bloom starts. Contact a service, like DeClue & Sons Tree Care, Inc., for more help.