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RTEC Treecare

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How To Care For Trees In Winter

Resources: Seasonal Tree Care

Although trees in winter are dormant, they are still exposed to the cold temperature and harsh elements winter brings. It is important to provide your winter trees with the proper care to survive the winter and flourish in the spring. Below are ways you can care for your tree in winter.

Water Your Trees In Winter:

Most homeowners don’t think about watering their trees in winter but winter trees need water as well, especially if you live in a mild climate or if the tree is young. The best rule of thumb for watering a tree in winter is to apply the same amount of water as you would in the summer but apply only once every 20 days if there has been no soaking precipitation. Make sure to water during the day when it is above 40 degrees to allow the water to soak in before the temperature drops at night.  And make sure to pay extra attention to your Evergreen trees; because Evergreens retain their needles they are more likely to feel the effects of drying winter conditions.

trees in winterSpray Your Evergreen Trees In Winter:

Most of the negative effects of winter stem from the fact that trees and shrubs lose moisture through their pores which are located on their leaves/needles. During the winter months, the dry air and wind accelerate this effect leading to leaves increasing their water demand from the roots in order to survive. However, the root system usually has a hard time keeping up with the leaves’ demands. The result: leaves and needles turning brown and dying. This cycle is called winter burn, or desiccation.

Anti-desiccant treatments can solve this destructive cycle. Anti-desiccants coat the upper and lower foliage in a protective wax coating reducing the moisture lost through the leaves. Similar to the moisturizers, lotions, and humidifiers we use to keep our skin hydrated in the winter, anti-desiccants provide trees & shrubs with the protection they need to flourish during winter instead of fighting to survive. On an aesthetic note, this means no more brown and dying evergreens!  Learn more about Anti-Desiccant Treatments and schedule an evaluation with a certified arborist today by calling 703.573.3029 or by booking online.

Tree Wrap This Winter:

Sun scald is winter damage that is commonly seen on young trees, newly planted trees, and thin-barked trees (cherry, crabapple, honey locust, linden, maple, mountain ash, plum). Sun scald caused the tree bark to dry and crack. The University of Minnesota explains that “On cold winter days, the sun heats up bark to the point where cambial activity is stimulated. When the sun is blocked by a cloud, hill, or building, bark temperature drops rapidly, killing the active tissue” creating sun scald.

To combat this you can wrap your susceptible trees with tree wrap this winter. We suggest purchasing burlap tree wrap and following simple application tutorials online to protect your trees in winter.

Salt Damage On Evergreen Shrubs
Salt Damage On Evergreen Shrubs

Keep Rock Salt Away From Your Tree In Winter:

The salt used to melt ice and snow on the roads and walkways, typically sodium chloride, can have a devastating impact when it comes into contact with trees and shrubs. When the road salt enters the soil water can be pulled out of the tree roots dehydrating the tree. Salt caught up in the air can also coat the tree pulling the water out of the needles, buds, and branches further dehydrating the tree/shrub as well.

If you have control over what kind of salt your tree is exposed to opt for Magnesium chloride instead. Using this type of salt on your driveway and walkways can keep your tree from experiencing damage from the typical sodium chloride. If your trees are close to the road and will be exposed to sodium chloride all is not lost. Remove the salt you can see and make sure to provide your tree with enough water to flush out the soil and its system.

Trees In WinterRemove Snow From Branches This Winter:

The light snow typically won’t do damage to tree branches. It’s when the snow really starts to pile up that you need to take action to keep branches from breaking. Your first instinct may be to shake the branches to get the snow off but this can actually cause more damage by snapping the brittle winter branches of the trees. Instead gently brush the snow off of the branches of your trees in upward strokes. To reach higher branches, GENTLY use a broom in an upward sweeping motion to remove snow. Make sure to focus on Evergreens; snow easily piles up on these trees because of their needles

Trim Your Tree In Winter:

A question we get asked a lot is whether tree trimming can be performed in the winter. The truth is, although trees and shrubs are generally forgotten during winter, the dormant season is the optimal time to trim and inspect your trees.

As an example, dead branches and structural issues in large shade trees can be easily identified and properly pruned in the cold months.  Branch defects and structural issues are also plainly visible with the absence of leaves.  Furthermore, when selective pruning of live branches is necessary, the dormant season is the best time of year for such actions to take place. Maintenance efforts in your trees now can pay off big come the stormy seasons ahead when the winds start to blow. Learn more about tree trimming and schedule tree trimming evaluation with a certified arborist today by calling 703.573.3029 or by booking online.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Maintenance
  • Tree Problems
  • Environmental Services
  • Seasonal Tree Care

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