It comes as no surprise that the Lower Mainland can experience harsh temperature changes this time of year! Stormy winters can be disastrous for evergreens, as their needles hold a lot of snow and ice. We at Fraser Valley Cedars want to remind you to take proactive steps to maintain the health and wellbeing of your hedges during winter and beyond. Here are some ways to protect your cedars during the cold season.
Why you should protect your hedges in the winter
There is more to winter than just cold temperatures. It can also bring snow and ice, sometimes in large amounts.
In the winter, precipitation accumulates and becomes heavy. This weight can cause cedar tree branches to break and potentially misshape, which can cause them to break.
These conditions sometimes make cedar trees incapable of recovering come spring. Young trees are particularly vulnerable. Keeping cedar trees protected in winter ensures that they continue to add spectacular greenery to your yard all year long.
Wrap your cedar hedges
Even though cedar trees are resilient to winter weather, there are a few measures you can take to support their growth.
For many cedar varieties, wrapping them in burlap will help protect your hedges from ice and snow damage. The wind is especially dangerous on the sides of trees exposed to the most sun and wind, making them more susceptible to winter harm.
If you wrap some burlap around stakes near the tree, you will keep its branches close so that heavy snowfall or ice accumulation won’t bend them. Loosely wrapping the tree is another option.
Before wrapping your trees, wait until the snow has arrived and is regularly sticking to the ground. It is best to avoid wrapping a hedge or tying any material too tightly around the branches or trunk of the tree as this may harm it.
Unwrapping cedar hedges at the right time
Burlap can be useful when protecting cedars from breakage. However, removing the burlap at the right time is vital.
The burlap should be detached when the frost is approximately 80 percent over and temperatures are no longer below freezing. Depending on the type of tree you have and your region, tree wrapping should generally take place between November and April.
Keep branches from bending
Your cedar trees will probably accumulate snow during the winter. However, as the temperature rises, snow may settle down into the branches and cause damage. New growth may be destroyed, resulting in major tree damage. You can easily remove snow from top branches by using a soft broom. Place a stake on either side of the branch and tie it together to retrain drooping branches.
Repair splits
Cedar branches can become brittle and split open during winter storms, causing significant damage. A tree can heal itself if it is provided with the right support. By tying up the broken branches with a soft material, you may be able to prevent future damage and possibly heal the break.
Keep your trees protected from the harsh, cold weather this winter. With the proper hedge maintenance, you can ensure your cedars stay healthy all year round.
We at Fraser Valley Cedars would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our cedar trees. If you would like a quote over the phone or in-person (at no cost) please get in touch with us today.
If you are looking for cedar trees in Langley, contact Fraser Valley Cedars.