Winters in Richland can be hit or miss. This year along, we’ve seen temperatures in December ranging from the low 50 degrees to the high teens. In the seasons we have the bitter cold temps couple with snow, you’ll want to understand how these temperatures can affect trees and potential damage from ice.

Call Us In
Depending on your circumstances and expertise, you may have to bring in us in to assist you in making decisions or in carrying out the physical work. There are a number of experts available to help you, including arborists, foresters, forestry technicians, biologists, ecologists, loggers and land clearing contractors. Each has their own unique skills and experience and should be used accordingly. Arborists care for individual trees and shrubs.

Future Care
Help your tree in the upcoming year by making its life as easy as possible. Water shade trees during dry spells. Avoid unnecessary wounding like lawn mower injury, at the tree’s base. In the forest, practice good timber management by cutting out less desirable and poorly formed trees to benefit your more valuable trees. At the same time, give thought to retaining some of the damaged trees as potential cavity trees for wildlife.

A well thought out management plan can help your trees stay “fit” for many years. A number of publications are available to help develop a management plan for your woodlot including A Woodlot Management Plan, Making Your Woodland Pay, and A Business Approach to Owning Rural Property. Contact the LandOwner Resource Centre for details. Don’t be tempted to “clean-up” the forest too much. Remember, woody debris on the forest floor provides nutrients for the remaining trees as well as key habitat for forest wildlife.

When you’re looking for tree maintenance and tree care in Richland, we should be your first choice. We are some of the only certified arborists in town and we are very good at what we do. Let us explain to you why we’re your best bet to take care of your trees.

Winters in Kennewick can be hit or miss. This year along, we’ve seen temperatures in December ranging from the low 50 degrees to the high teens. In the seasons we have the bitter cold temps couple with snow, you’ll want to understand how these temperatures can affect trees and potential damage from ice.

Most trees can be saved with appropriate treatment. There is no need to rush out and remove trees that do not pose a safety hazard in the short-term. It is wise to wait until the growing season before deciding to take down damaged trees.

The first thing to do is assess your trees. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do broken limbs pose any danger?
• What species is the tree?
• How healthy was the tree before the storm?
• How much of the crown has been lost?
• Is the trunk broken?
• Can a branch in the upper canopy become a leader?
• Is the tree of any value to wildlife?

Make your assessment of the tree and then decide on the appropriate action. If you are making decisions for shade trees around your home, you will want to do all you can to save each tree; however, if you are making decisions for your woodlot, a thorough assessment is required.

Realistically, you won’t be able to properly prune each injury on each tree. Deciding which tree stays and which tree should be cut can be a difficult decision and depends on your woodlot objectives, the extent of the damage, safety issues and current market values. Landowners should seek professional help for an assessment of the damage to their woodlots and recommendations for remedial action.

When you’re looking for tree maintenance and tree care in Kennewick, we should be your first choice. We are some of the only certified arborists in town and we are very good at what we do. Let us explain to you why we’re your best bet to take care of your trees.

Winters in the Tri-Cities can be hit or miss. This year along, we’ve seen temperatures in December ranging from the low 50 degrees to the high teens. In the seasons we have the bitter cold temps couple with snow, you’ll want to understand how these temperatures can affect trees and potential damage from ice.

Ice storms are fairly common events. Severe ice storms can affect trees, but trees can also be remarkably resilient. Healthy trees that have not suffered major structural damage, such as split trunks and broken crowns, may recover with time. In winter, trees are dormant and further injury by insects and disease is less likely than if the injury occurs during the growing season.

Recovery depends on the health of the tree and the extent of the damage; healthy trees with few damaged branches should recover and in time the crown may even appear normal.

Safety First
Be careful when working near or under any damaged trees. Approach and inspect damaged trees only if it is clearly safe to do so. Branches that appear to be well wedged in the crown can fall without warning at any time, resulting in serious injury and damage to property.

Do not go near any tree close to power lines. Pruning of large branches and stems is difficult and hazardous and should only be carried out by persons trained and experienced in such work.

When you’re looking for tree maintenance and tree care in the Tri-Cities, we should be your first choice. We are some of the only certified arborists in town and we are very good at what we do. Let us explain to you why we’re your best bet to take care of your trees.