Here in East Tennessee, our first wintery cold snap usually hits right after the first of the year in January. That is why now is the perfect time to gear up and prepare your trees for the winter. Certified arborists in Kingsport at Promier Tree have got some tips that will help you protect your trees this winter.
Cold Stress
Cold stress occurs when the temperatures change drastically from a sunny day to cold, freezing temperatures at night. These dramatic variations in temperature can stress the tree between its outer bark and inner wood, which leads to cracking in the area of the tree that receives most of the winter sunlight.
While there isn’t much you can do for most trees, tropical trees or trees that are young can be wrapped to protect them from the extensive sun, insulating them during the night. Remove the wrapping as soon as nighttime temperatures reach above freezing consistently.
Winter Drought
We tend to get a good bit of rain during winters in East Tennessee, but if we end up with a drier than normal winter or freezing temperatures that end up turning rain to ice, lay down a thick layer of mulch to help retain moisture and slow the drying out process.
Branch Breakage
Branches are likely to break during the winter due to harsh winds, snow, and ice. It is always best to have your trees inspected yearly by a certified arborist in the Tri-Cities. We can perform this assessment during the fall after all of the tree’s leaves have fallen, and we can get a good look at the entire structure of the tree, noting any damaged or diseased limbs that need to be removed. Removing these problem branches before harsh winter will likely prevent hazardous conditions from a broken or fallen branch.
Rodents
During the winter, rodents such as squirrels, chipmunks, and the like could wreak havoc on your trees if their food source becomes scarce. They will wind up chewing on the bark of your trees, causing the tree to girdle. You can set humane traps to remove these pests or cover the base of your trees with a wire mesh. Repellents also may be beneficial in keeping these rodents from ruining your trees.
To prevent tree hazards and ensure your tree are growing in a healthy manner, be sure to hire an arborist each year for annual inspections. This also helps prevent the spread of tree diseases that could wind up damaging or killing these gorgeous plants on your property.
Winter Tree Care in Kingsport
If you would like to learn more about our tree trimming or pruning services, please contact our tree care experts at Promier Tree by calling (423) 765-2626 to schedule an appointment with one of our arborists. We provide full-service tree care by our experienced and certified arborists who can safely care for your trees without causing damage.
Promier Tree is here to serve residential and business customers in the areas of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport in Tennessee.