The urban forests of Oakland County and its surrounding areas offer verdant sceneries that make Michigan life even more inviting.
However, when these green spaces turn white with the winter snow, the county’s prized trees are also threatened by the winter season’s severe snowstorms.
Heavy snow and strong winds can damage or even uproot trees if not taken care of.
So, don’t wait for these natural disasters to strike.
Here are six ways to protect your trees from snowstorms in Oakland County, MI.
Get An Arborist Consultation Or Tree Risk Assessment
Tree care is more complex than it looks.
Simplify this by working with your local tree expert.
A tree may seem strong enough to withstand snowstorms at a glance, but other factors might tell a different tale.
An ISA-certified arborist will provide an in-depth analysis of your tree and its surroundings, recognizing possible weak points.
Your professional arborist will also suggest the best course of action to fix or improve the issues found on your tree.
Regular Tree Trimming
Regular trimming and pruning are essential for aesthetics and tree health, but they are also a preventative measure against winter storm damage.
Remember that it’s crucial to leave pruning to professionals with the expertise, experience, and proper tools to do the work right.
Do-it-yourself tree pruning can cause more harm than good to your trees and take years to correct.
Oak trees can even get the deadly oak wilt if you prune them at the wrong time of year.
Even healthy tree limbs can become a hazard if they’re too near power lines and utility cables.
The weight of snowfall or winds could nudge them closer to the wires, causing power outages or, worse, fires.
Wrap Your Trees
Whenever winter’s severe storms hit Michigan, trees help mitigate the effects through wind resistance, reduce the risk of soil erosion, and even provide shelter to animals.
However, young and mature trees can also benefit from added protection through tree wrapping.
Using sticks and a frost cloth or burlap wrap, you can create a makeshift tent to cover a small tree that would likely be susceptible to structural damage.
This shields the tree’s branches from the weight of snow and wind pressure that would otherwise break them.
Trees with thin bark, such as palm trees, can also be inflicted with sun scald.
The shifting temperatures between night and day in winter crack the tree bark.
To prevent sun scald, wrap burlap around the tree trunk, which will help it maintain its temperature throughout the day.
Add Mulch Around Your Trees
Heavy snow and harsh winds are not your tree’s only problems during the winter months; the temperature itself is also a problem.
Mulching can protect your tree from the freezing cold caused by Michigan snowstorms and ice storms.
After the first frost in Oakland County, place two to four inches of mulch around your tree, about three inches away from the tree trunk.
It should circle your tree at least three times the stem’s diameter.
For best results, go with six times the stem diameter or towards your tree’s drip line.
This prevents frost damage to tree roots.
Mulch serves as an insulator, maintaining the root zone’s temperature despite the cold while retaining moisture in the soil.
If You Have To, Remove A Tree
If there’s a diseased or damaged tree on your property and an expert deems it irredeemable, then it’s crucial to remove that tree before the storm comes.
The severe weather conditions will likely cause it to fall, damaging other trees or your property.
Seek the assistance of a tree service company to remove trees on your property.
They can cut them down safely and professionally while adhering to Oakland County’s tree protection bylaws.
Call Tree Emergency Services
Even with enough prep time, the severe winter weather in Michigan can still be uncertain.
After the snowstorm, walk around your tree and look for signs of damage.
A damaged tree may drop branches or even fall.
Even fallen trees can further cause damage if not removed right away.
In such a case, call your local tree company for emergency tree services.
Your local arborist may cut down the dangerous branches, provide immediate stabilization efforts, or conduct an emergency tree removal service if necessary.
As intense snowstorms loom above Michigan in winter, staying updated on the latest weather reports and preparing for any potential landfall is essential.
With the right efforts, you can keep yourself and your trees safe from the season’s extreme weather conditions.
