A wet Minnesota snowfall or an ice storm can add hundreds of pounds to a tree's branches. Most healthy trees bend and recover. Others split, drop limbs, or end up with broken branches hanging over a roof or driveway.
At A Tree Service Inc. in New Brighton, MN, we have been cleaning up after Twin Cities winter storms since 1979. Below is the advice our ISA Certified Arborists give homeowners after a heavy snow or ice storm.
Should I knock snow off my tree branches?
Light, fluffy snow can be gently brushed off small trees and shrubs with a broom, pushing up from below so the branch is not forced down further.
Ice is different. Do not shake, hit, or try to chip ice off branches. Ice-coated wood is stiff and brittle and snaps easily. Let the ice melt on its own, even if the tree looks bent over.
Which trees break most often
Fast-growing trees with weaker wood, like silver maple, boxelder, and Siberian elm, tend to lose limbs in heavy snow and ice. So do trees with two main trunks joined in a tight V, where the joint can split.
Dead or dying trees, including ash trees killed by emerald ash borer, are the biggest risk. Their wood is brittle and can fail under a load a healthy tree would handle.
Evergreens like arborvitae can splay open under heavy snow, and young birches often bend to the ground. Many bent birches straighten out again by summer if they are not broken.
Warning signs after a storm
Walk around your yard once it is safe and look up. Watch for broken limbs hanging in the canopy, cracks in the trunk or where big limbs meet the trunk, a split between two main stems, a tree that is newly leaning, or soil heaved up on one side of the base.
Any of these over a house, driveway, play area, or sidewalk should be looked at soon. Hanging limbs can fall without warning, even days later.
What not to do
If a branch or tree is on a power line, treat the line and the branch as live. Stay at least 30 feet back, keep kids and pets away, and call 911 and your electric company. For most Twin Cities homes that is Xcel Energy.
Do not climb a ladder with a chainsaw, and do not cut bent limbs that are pinned or under tension. Bent wood can spring back with enough force to cause serious injury. This is exactly the kind of work to leave to a trained crew.
How to prevent damage before winter
Have dead and weak limbs pruned out in the fall or dormant season, before snow and ice add weight. If a tree has a weak V-shaped union, ask an arborist whether it needs pruning, support, or removal.
For arborvitae and upright evergreens, loosely tie the branches together with soft twine in late fall so snow cannot pull them apart. Water evergreens well before the ground freezes so they go into winter healthy.
When to call a pro
Call a tree service if a broken limb is hanging over your house or driveway, a large limb or trunk has split, a tree is leaning toward something it could hit, or you are not sure whether a damaged tree is safe.
A Tree Service has bucket trucks and its own crane for storm work, including trees on or near homes. Our ISA Certified Arborists can tell you whether a damaged tree can be saved with pruning or should come down, and give you written pricing before any work starts.
Quick answers
Should I shake snow off my trees?
Gently brush light snow off small trees, pushing up from below. Never shake or hit branches coated in ice, because frozen wood snaps easily. Let ice melt on its own.
Will a birch bent over by ice recover?
Often, yes. Young birches bent by ice or snow frequently straighten out by summer if the trunk is not cracked. Do not pull them up while they are frozen.
Who do I call if a tree branch is on a power line?
Call 911 and your electric company, not a tree service, and stay at least 30 feet away from the line and anything touching it. For most Twin Cities homes that is Xcel Energy.
Does A Tree Service handle storm-damaged trees in winter?
Yes. A Tree Service Inc. in New Brighton, MN, removes storm-damaged trees and hanging limbs year-round across the Twin Cities, using bucket trucks and a crane when a tree is on or near a home.