Anyone who’s ever had tree limbs or an entire tree come crashing down due to high winds or heavy snow has learned the hard way when it comes to preventative tree care. And right now — during the cold days of winter — is a great time to tend to your trees.
Tree Care Inspection
During the dormant season when a tree lacks its leaves, it’s easier for a certified arborist to inspect the overall shape and structure of a tree before determining what work needs to be done. A winter tree care inspection also helps to identify any weak connections, deadwood or inferior crossing branches. Branches and tree canopies that are too full can also be thinned out to avoid storm-related wind damage when the leaves return in the spring.
Winter Windsail Reduction
Windsail reduction is a preventative tree care service that works to reduce wind resistance in a tree’s canopy. By selectively removing branches, a certified arborist can reduce a windsail effect by increasing wind penetration and passage throughout the crown of a tree. This, in turn, will make a tree less likely to bend or fail during heavy wind storms. Winter is a good time to thin out any branches to reduce the windsail of a tree. No foliage mean lighter branches which will prevent a messy cleanup. It’s also cheaper because you won’t have to pay for additional material to be chipped or hauled away.
Prevent Property Damage
Preventative tree care during the winter will prevent property damage because the ground is frozen. This makes it easier to use heavy equipment without leaving ruts in your lawn or property. Additionally, if you tend to your trees now, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up a mess of fallen branches when the next winter storm blows into town.
Insect & Disease Prevention
Winter is the ideal time to prune because there are fewer insects or disease pathogens around. This makes it less likely that they will hurt or infect any exposed limbs or just-trimmed trees. Winter also makes it easier to identify any infestations that may be dormant. Borer holes, loosened bark, sawdust-like frass, and overwintering eggs can be easily detected when a tree is without its leaves.
Westcoast Tree Care
Winter is the perfect season for preventative tree care and windsail reduction. By pruning problematic canopies now, you’ll prevent unwanted damage and messy cleanup caused by spring and summer storms. Not only will you reduce wind resistance in a tree’s canopy, you’ll improve the look of your tree while keeping your property safe from potential safety hazards.
If you would like more information, contact the certified arborist at Westcoast Tree Care at 1.800.767.8733. We would be more than happy to inspect your trees and provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation quote for any of our tree care services.
