Protect your clients from winter damage.
During the winter, deciduous trees are bare. With their entire branch structure visible, it becomes much easier to identify weak branch connections, cracks in limbs, inferior crossing limbs and dead wood. Pruning to remove these branches in winter can avoid serious future damage while improving the health and strength of trees. The cold climate also means there are far fewer insects or disease pathogens around to affect the newly trimmed areas.Winter is a season full of holiday cheer, festive gatherings and, in many parts of the country, beautiful snow-covered landscapes. When it comes to outdoor maintenance, the image of a snow shovel most likely comes to mind before pruning equipment. Winter, however, is a good time to offer pruning services for your clients’ trees. The tips below from certified arborist Ken Almstead, who is chief executive officer of Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co. can give you a good idea of what to look for when subcontracting pruning services, or when hiring an arborist so that you can offer pruning services.
Identify Problems Early
Oftentimes, a tree’s survival may depend on the care you give it before the storm strikes. High winds, heavy ice and snow can cause a great deal of strain. Inspecting trees before the worst weather hits can give you insight into potential problem areas and allow you to prevent costly and potentially dangerous property damage.
Branches that hang in close proximity to a house, roof, driveway or nearby power lines should be cleaned up. Dead and decaying branches, particularly those at the top or ends of a tree’s canopy, are also potential hazards. Soil that’s newly raised or lifted around the trunk can be a sign of an unsound root system — one that may give way in severe weather. Another sign of shifting is if canopies of trees are overlapping each other, which wouldn’t happen naturally. Oozing sap, stains or sawdust-like residue could mean disease or insects. Cracks, hollow or rotted areas should also be addressed; mushroom conks growing on or near the base of the tree are another warning sign.
Cleaning Up After the Storm
After a severe storm passes, trees should be evaluated for overall health from the bottom up. Although the ground may be clear, limbs damaged by ice or snow can still split and break high in the treetops. Inspecting the canopies of storm damaged trees is crucial to prevent branches from snapping and crashing down in the future — especially during high winds.
Broken branches often leave behind stubs that are magnets for decay. Since trees do not regenerate wood, when a breakage occurs, the damage is permanent. An experienced arborist can prevent or stop the spread of decay, however, by pruning any stubs promptly with precise, clean cuts. Improper pruning can cause more harm and allow decay to spread to the trunk.
Restoration pruning, which involves pruning trees that have been damaged by storms, can also play a critical role in the long-term health and visual appeal of landscapes. Trees damaged by winter storms often respond to breakages by producing many new sprouts. This new growth isn’t structurally viable and must be carefully and selectively thinned to form the main architecture of the tree. Although restoration pruning may take several years as the new growth sets in, it is important to promote proper healing and reduce or prevent future rot and decay issues.
Save Time and Money
A frozen ground surface affords arborists the opportunity to use specialized heavy equipment such as a bucket truck and chipper that might otherwise cause damage to your clients’ lawns. This equipment makes the trees more accessible and cleanup easier, which means a less expensive bill. In addition, greater flexibility in scheduling and seasonal discounts may be available since work is generally slower during the wintertime months.
A well-maintained landscape can increase your clients’ property values by up to 20%. Hiring a professional to care for your clients’ trees will protect your company’s reputation and help avert serious storm-related damage and injuries.
When selecting an arborist, look for one who is certified by a professional organization such as the International Society of Arborculture (ISA) or one licensed by your state. Request to see proof of insurance — hiring someone uninsured could leave you liable for his or her mistakes. Take the time to do a little background research by checking out the company or individual’s website. Ask for references and gather several estimates to compare. Before simply settling on the lowest bid, consider which individual or firm offers the experience, credentials and breadth of services you need to best safeguard your investment. Also, there is a benefit to choosing an arborist and sticking with that individual over time since they will build a knowledge base regarding the particular trees on your clients’ properties.
