Got Trees In Your Yard? Learn The Causes Of Tree Injury In The Winter
The winter can cause a lot of damage to things, including the trees in your yard. How damaged trees can get depends on things like the age of the trees and the type of weather conditions you have. For example, a very young tree will not survive as well as a tree that is older. Below are some causes of winter damage so you can get the trees treated.
Changes in Temperature
If you live in an area that has a constant change in temperature, it can damage your trees. If the trees are not fully dormant, a hard, sudden freeze can injure them. If you live in an area that commonly has warm winters followed by a few very cold months, this can cause problems. This is because during the warm days, the tree will de-acclimate, which makes them more vulnerable to injury.
Below Freezing Temperatures
Trees have a minimal tolerance level of how they can handle low temperatures. Trees that have a low tolerance level include magnolias, holly, and rhododendron. These trees will likely do well if you have a mild winter but be damaged once the temperatures go below freezing. Trees that can withstand cold temperatures include the evergreen, poplars, and beech.
Cracks Due to Frost
In some cases, a tree may develop frost cracks, also known as radial shakes. These cracks may be shallow or they may go deep into the trunk of the tree. They are most common in areas that have consistent below freezing temperature. Some trees that may develop frost cracks include oak, crabapple, red maple, and willow. These cracks will not generally kill a tree but once a tree gets them they will usually reappear each winter.
Salt Damage
Deicing salt often used in winter can damage a tree if the salt gets around them. This damage will not appear until the spring to early summer. The problems you will see if your tree has this type of damage are dead areas in the trunk, branch dieback and leaf scorch.
In some cases, the roots can be damaged if the trees are exposed to salt for a long period. The salt leaches through the soil and gets to the roots. If this happens to a young tree, it may cause the tree to die.
Contact a tree removal service if you have any problems with your trees. They can show you how to care for them and can remove any trees that have died due to the cold, winter months.