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Snow catcher - the weight of snow and ice has caused many limbs to sag or break. Photo by Mary Hightower, Division of Agriculture.
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CLARENDON, Ark. - Major snow and ice storms can cause damage to both young and mature trees and shrubs and knowing how to handle these problems can save both the tree and your life, said Van Banks, Monroe County staff chair for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
"Chain saws and power lines don't mix," he said. "Always leave limbs that are over power lines to the professionals. They have the knowledge and equipment to safely remove them."
Banks also advises homeowners to not overwork themselves.
"Don't lift and drag or try to shift large branches without help," he said. "Giving yourself a heart attack in the process is not the desired result; and fatigue can result in losing control over chainsaws or other powerful equipment."
Banks also has tips for assessing damage to the landscape.
For small trees that have lost branches, see where the break occurred," he said. "If the damage is away from the main trunk, then remove the entire severed branch.
"Look for a 'collar' (thickening) near the trunk or lateral stem and make the cut there," he said. "The collar is the area where the most regenerative cells are and they will heal the break quickly."
Over the next few months, watch the tree to see if the remaining branch area is healing.
For breaks that tear into the main trunk, there's not much to be done; covering the wound with chemicals can delay healing.
"You will have to hope that the tree survives," he said. "Many will survive, but with a scar along the side.
For young trees that are bending under the weight of the snow or ice, remove the ice or snow as soon as possible and allow the tree to bounce back to its normal upright position, he said. If the young tree shows signs of tipping over, then re-seat or straighten it up and secure it with braces until it has put sufficient roots down to stay upright.
Remove all the smaller branches and put them in bundles for clean up crews. On larger properties, of course, you can compost the small branches and stack the cut branches for use as firewood.
"Fortunately these storms do not hit the same area very often, but the effect of snow and ice on trees, if treated promptly, will not necessarily be the end for the tree," he said. "Remember to pace yourself and work safely."
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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