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The Guide To Protecting Trees And Shrubs From Heavy Snow

Resources: Seasonal Tree Care

protect trees from heavy snow in winter, winter storm wrecks havoc

It’s official: according to the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, we can expect a longer winter season. With a longer winter comes a likely continuation of the weather we’ve seen from Winter Storm Orlena this past week.

Whether you’re the type of person who loves playing in the snow with your family or the kind of person who prefers to stay bundled up indoors with a cup of hot chocolate, one thing’s for sure: you need to keep an eye out for snow.

In this article, we’ll discuss what mistakes you may be making, what your tree or shrub may look like if it has sustained damage, and what you can do to protect your trees & shrubs from heavy snow that may come their way.


4 Things NOT To Do

When it comes to dealing with snow, proper tree and shrub care tends to slip the mind of most homeowners. It’s understandable. It’s easy to get sidetracked with the snow and ice that immediately needs to be cleaned off your driveway or car.

While the following mistakes can be easy to make, understanding them and then making small changes can protect your trees and shrubs from heavy snow this winter.

1. DO NOT shake the tree or shrub. By shaking the plant, you can actually do more damage to it, especially if there’s ice.

Instead, very gently brush off the snow on trees & shrubs. Simply taking a broom and brushing off the snow from your plants will lighten the load that is weighing down on their branches – and may save a limb or two, or even the whole plant. That said, if there’s ice, it’s safer to just leave it alone.

2. DO NOT shovel or plow snow onto shrubs. While it may seem obvious now, the fact that you’re adding more weight to the plant can easily be forgotten as you’re in the middle of the activity. Be mindful of your plants. Don’t pile more snow on your shrubs as it can add to the load that’s already there.

3. DO NOT let plow trucks drive over the critical root zones (CRZ). High traffic further compacts soil and damages root systems. While snow itself won’t destroy the roots, overly compacted soil can be detrimental to the plant and can ultimately lead to tree or shrub death.

4. DO NOT lay salt near your plants. Salt can negatively impact tree and shrub health and lead to a series of symptoms, such as: browning needles, marginal leaf burn, delayed flower & fruit development, and more.

trees and branches covered in heavy snow in winter, need to be protect them so they don't fall

Symptoms Of Winter Damage

Did you realize you made any of the above mistakes? If so, it’ll be especially important for you to watch out for the following signs of winter damage in your trees and shrubs.

  • Noticeable difference in plant health
  • Cracking or splitting tree bark
  • Noticeably substantial root damage
  • Broken or hanging tree limbs or branches
  • Leaning tree or falling limbs or branches
  • Unsightly shrubs

If you’re concerned your tree or shrub may have sustained winter damage, we recommend having a Certified Arborist come out to inspect it and create an action plan. As long as the damage isn’t too severe, the tree or shrub will likely be able to recover through proper pruning (“trimming”).

Reserve An Appointment Online
OR Call 703.573.3029

What You Need To Do Now

heavy snow on tree branches in winter storm

As with most things, a proactive, preventative strategy of tree and shrub maintenance can help reduce risk and help them live happier and longer. Whether or not your plants have been damaged by Winter Storm Orlena, the best thing to do is move forward and protect your plants from the next heavy snow that hits.

To help your trees and shrubs stay protected through the winter season, we recommend:

1. Maintenance pruning and inspections: While you should keep an eye on your plants, Certified Arborists have the expert eye needed to properly inspect them. The tree expert will be able to identify and correct structural defects that need to be taken care of. The proactive, professional pruning will improve your plant’s safety, reduce unexpected limb or tree failures, and keep your landscape healthy.

Note: Despite popular belief, winter is the BEST time of the year for tree trimming and inspections, so make the most of the season and get started ASAP.

2. Cabling & Bracing: If your tree needs extra structural support, you’ll need to provide it with vital cabling/bracing to protect it through the windy winter storms.

3. Weight Reduction Pruning: If your plants have heavy, overextended limbs, weight reduction pruning can greatly reduce the risk of branch failure.


Let’s be honest, even the groundhog himself can’t 100% predict the upcoming weather, and neither can we. The best thing you can do is proactively and preventively provide the care your plants need.

Give yourself and your landscape peace of mind this winter. By proactively caring for your trees and shrubs now, you can enjoy the rest of the snowy weather, with a smaller burden of worry weighing on your back (and theirs!).

Call us at 703.573.3029 or reserve an appointment online to get started.

Reserve An Appointment Online
OR Call 703.573.3029

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Find a Certified Arborist in Your Area!

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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