Many trees in local landscapes still had their leaves when winter abruptly arrived in mid-November 2022. Strong winds and heavy snowfall resulted in uprooted trees as well as trees and shrubs with bent and broken branches.
As a homeowner, how should you approach these problems in your landscape?
Your immediate response should be limited. Safety is your primary concern.
Important: Stay away from fallen powerlines or damaged trees and shrubs situated close to powerlines. Call Clallam County PUD for assistance.
Remove only trees, shrubs or branches that are a threat to human or animal life or likely to cause additional property damage.
If snow has built up on branches causing them to sag, remove the snow with an upward sweeping motion.
Sweeping from the top down can result in more broken branches. If the snow is frozen onto a branch, you might prop up the limb but do not try to remove the snow. Let it melt naturally. Treat ice-covered branches similarly.
If possible, remove broken branches still attached to trees or shrubs to prevent further damage. Realize that bent and twisted trunks and large branches (more than 6 inches in diameter) can release a lot of stored energy when cut. Have them removed by someone with the appropriate experience.
If you are qualified for this risky job, prune damaged branches back to a larger limb or to the main trunk.
Do not leave stubs or make pruning cuts flush with the trunk. Cut outside the branch collar (the shoulder between the branch and the trunk or older branch to which it attaches).
Using a sharp chisel or knife, remove torn bark that remains after removing a broken branch. Remove the bark up to where it firmly attaches to the tree; do not expose more of the cambium (greenish inner bark) than necessary.
If a tree is uprooted, assess if it can be saved. If the tree is large, special equipment such as a block and tackle or winch might be needed to upright it. If more than one-third of the root mass is exposed or the tree is more than 10 inches in diameter, it is unlikely that the tree can be saved.
If the decision is made to save an uprooted tree, cover the exposed roots as soon as possible to protect them from drying out or freezing. Use wet burlap, hay, sand, mud or plastic sheets. Upright the tree when the weather improves.
Response after the weather improves
Tree removal. Don’t make hasty decisions about tree removal. Healthy trees can be resilient.
If the answer is “yes” to any of the following questions, tree removal should be considered:
• Is the tree old or unhealthy? Young trees and trees that are growing vigorously can sustain substantial damage and still recover whereas old or unhealthy trees are much less likely to survive.
• Are major limbs broken? Is more than 50 percent of the tree’s crown damaged? If too many limbs are lost, the remaining leaves might be unable to provide the nourishment the tree needs, and it will suffer.
• Has the main trunk (sometimes called leader) been lost? If so, the tree might survive but is likely to be stunted or deformed.
• Do wounds from lost limbs extend into the heartwood of the tree? These trees will be more susceptible to insect infestations and invasion by fungi and bacteria.
Shrub removal. Most broadleaf shrubs damaged by snow and ice can be cut back to within a few feet of the ground and regrow over a season or two. Coniferous shrubs that break apart will not recover and should be removed. Realize that a spring-blooming shrub cutback in winter will not bloom in the coming season, but it might live to bloom another season.
Uprighting a tree. If the decision has been made to upright an uprooted tree take the following steps when the weather improves. Ensure that qualified people with the right equipment are tasked to do the job.
1. Just before you right the tree, cut away any torn or shredded roots.
2. Remove sufficient soil below the root ball so the roots have a place to go.
3. Pad the tree trunk where pressure will be applied to pull it upright.
4. Upright the tree. Special equipment is likely to be necessary.
5. Once the tree is up and in position, pack the hole with the soil you removed.
6. Stake the tree to hold it in place until the root system regenerates. Use at least three guy wires and put protective rubber tubing around wires to protect the trunk.
7. As the tree becomes reestablished, remove the support.
8. If necessary, prune or cut back part of the tree’s crown to compensate for root loss. The smaller root mass might not be able to support the above ground growth.
These actions can guide your response, but a planned and well-maintained landscape helps minimize the likelihood of winter damage. (See sidebar.) Prevention is always the best approach when the wind, snow, rain or ice arrive.
Jeanette Stehr-Green and Judy English are Clallam County Master Gardeners.
MG’s 2023 calendar available now
The 2023 Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County calendars make wonderful holiday gifts for gardening friends and neighbors. In addition to beautiful photos taken by Master Gardeners, the calendar provides monthly gardening tips specific to Clallam County and reminders of upcoming gardening events, workshops and talks. Calendars cost $8 for a single copy or $7.50 each for two or more. In Port Angeles, calendars can be purchased at the WSU Clallam County Extension Office at 223 E. Fourth St., Suite 15, and Fiddleheads Home & Garden, 126 W. 1st Street. They can also be purchased at the Demonstration Garden at 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim Thursday mornings from 9-11 am. Call Harmony Rutter at 360-565-2678 or email harmony.rutter@wsu.edu for additional information including other purchase options.
Preventing winter damage
The following steps can be taken during the growing season to minimize damage resulting from wind, snow, rain or ice:
• Plant the right plant in the right place. A tree or shrub well-suited to our climate will be healthier and more likely to recover from snow and ice damage.
• Plant trees where they are unlikely to interfere with above ground utilities.
• Select tree species that are more tolerant of snow and ice. Trees with lots of small branches and trees with broad or lopsided crowns (as opposed to those with a narrow crown) collect more snow and are more susceptible to winter damage.
• Provide good care to trees and shrubs so that they are healthy going into winter. Irrigate and fertilize as recommended for the species during the growing season.
• Prune trees so that they have a well-balanced canopy. Encourage a single leader (as opposed to a broad canopy).
• Prune trees so that they develop strong branch attachment angles. Branch angles (the angle between the trunk and main branch) between 45 and 90 degrees are the strongest; narrower branch angles are weak and most likely to break.
