Winter may be over, but its impact on your trees can linger. Heavy snow, ice, and drought cause winter damage, often leaving behind issues that aren’t immediately visible. As spring arrives in Greater South Easton, now is the time to assess your trees, address any problems, and give them the care they need to grow strong and healthy again.
Key Takeaways:
- During winter droughts, trees need supplemental watering when the ground isn’t frozen to prevent stress and damage to the root system.
- Salt used for de-icing roads and driveways can severely damage trees through both direct contact with branches and soil contamination, requiring thorough rinsing and soil flushing to mitigate the effects.
- Winter storms can create dangerous situations with partially broken branches that need prompt professional pruning to prevent further damage to the tree and property.
- Sunscald damage on the south-facing side of trees requires careful removal of loose bark and continued maintenance to help the tree heal properly.
Helping Your Trees Recover from Winter Damage in Greater South Easton
Greater South Easton offers a beautiful environment to live and raise a family, but winter can be tough on trees. Freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and dry conditions often leave trees stressed and damaged by spring. If your trees are showing signs of winter damage, now is the time to step in. Here’s how to help them recover and thrive in the months ahead.
PRO TIP: Want to learn more about how winter harms your trees? See our previous article with all the information on winter tree damage and how to prevent it.
Provide Supplemental Water During a Winter Drought
Winter droughts and periods of abnormal dryness have impacted Bristol County and the rest of our area. The late fall and winter saw a prolonged period of drought in 2024 that left many trees struggling to survive.
You can provide supplemental water to your trees during the winter as long as the ground isn’t frozen. The frozen ground won’t be able to absorb the water, and you’ll have to deal with an icy mess. If you can’t find an opportunity to water your trees during the winter, provide supplemental water as soon as the weather warms in the spring.
To check if your trees need water, dig a hole in the ground near your tree about two inches deep. Feel the soil and see if it is cool and moist or dry. Alternatively, insert a screwdriver into the ground and feel it for signs of moisture.
To get the water to your trees, we recommend using a soaker hose or a large bucket with holes drilled in the bottom. These techniques allow you to slowly soak the ground and get water to the deep roots. Try to water as much of the area under the drip line (the area under the tree’s canopy) as possible.
Protect Your Trees from Salt Damage with Proper Watering
In addition to drought, salt spray can take a toll on your trees. While salt helps melt snow and ice on roads and driveways, it can also harm trees by drying out their roots and damaging their foliage. Regular watering can help flush out excess salt and protect your trees from long-term damage.
“A lot of people will just plant trees near roads or driveways without a second thought about the species and its salt tolerance. Then, in the winter, all that salt we use on the road sprays up on the trees and dries them out. And it’s even worse for our customers in coastal towns like Wareham and New Bedford, where the trees already have to deal with salt spray from the ocean.” – Adam Winsor, Regal Tree Plant Health Care Manager
Salt damage occurs when salt gets into the soil or lands on the branches of your trees. Salt on the tree itself will reduce its ability to handle the cold and can increase the likelihood of ice damage. Salt in the soil impacts a tree’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Typical signs of salt damage to your trees will vary depending on its species, but some general things to look for include:
- Dieback in the canopy
- Discolored bark
- Discolored leaves in the spring
To help a tree facing salt damage on its branches, rinse them off gently when the temperature is above freezing or in the spring. To remove salt from the soil, drench it in clean water to flush the salt.
Some Greater South Easton trees to pay special attention to for salt damage in the winter include:
- Most evergreen species (including pines, hemlocks, and spruces)
- Red maples
- Sugar maples
- Shadbushes
- Pin oaks
Prune Storm-Damaged Branches to Prevent Further Harm
Winter storms can be just as damaging, if not more so, than summer storms. Major winter storms, like the one the Great South Easton faced in December of 2024 and nor’easters can cause broken branches and heavy snow and ice loads.
Promptly pruning partially attached branches protects both your tree and yard, preventing further damage while promoting healthier growth. Additionally, tree preservation services, like cabling and bracing, may also help support weak sections of the tree and prevent them from breaking.
When excess snow and ice weigh down your branches and they begin to bend, you’ll likely get the urge to try and help them. In many cases, you won’t have to do anything, as the branches will naturally spring back into place once the snow and ice melt. You can help these trees along after a snowstorm by safely standing back and gently brushing the snow off with a broom.
PRO TIP: Storms can cause your trees to become hazardous and put your home at risk. Always use caution around your trees after a storm.
Remove Loose Bark Around Sunscald Injuries
Sunscald can occur on the south or southwest side of your trees during warm and sunny days. The tree is not prepared for the increased heat and the sheer temperature drop when night falls. The cells in the outer bark die from the stress, leading to exposure of the inner bark and sunscald injury.
While your tree will have to recover from the wound itself, there are some ways you can help the tree heal. Remove any dead or loose bark hanging around the wound to aid in the development of a callus. Additionally, keep your trees generally healthy with enough water and nutrients to help with the healing process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Damage in Greater South Easton
Helping your tree after the winter can be a complicated and difficult subject. To help you better understand the subject, we’ve compiled some of the common questions homeowners have for us.
Should I apply fertilizer to my tree to help it after winter tree damage?
While fertilizer can support recovery, it should be used cautiously and only after soil testing. Applying fertilizer too early in spring or using too much can stimulate excessive new growth that’s vulnerable to late frosts. Wait until the soil temperature reaches about 55°F before fertilizing, and consider a targeted, slow-release fertilizer.
My evergreen needles have turned brown. Is it dead?
Brown needles do not necessarily mean your evergreen is dead – it could be a sign of winter burn or salt damage. Have an arborist examine your trees in the spring if they do not recover.
Are winter-damaged trees more susceptible to insect problems in the spring?
Winter damage that leaves wounds on your trees, such as broken branches and sunscald, can provide an entry point for insects to attack your trees. If you notice any of these injuries, have an arborist assess the condition of your trees. Additionally, inspect your trees regularly for signs of insect activity, such as damaged leaves or small holes in the bark.
Regal Tree Can Help Get Your Trees Recover from Winter Damage
Helping trees recover from winter storm damage will save you from having to schedule a costly tree removal. But providing the help they need is difficult or nearly impossible without the right equipment and training.
The team at Regal Tree & Shrub Experts provide honest, professional assessments to determine the best course of action for your trees – whether that means preservation or removal. If your trees have suffered winter damage, we’re here to help. Call us today at 774-719-2450 or request a quote online to get the expert care your trees need.
