‘Tis the season for winter damage to your cedars! Have you noticed dead needles on the outer edges of your cedar trees? If so, Old Man Winter may be to blame. The winter can leave your cedars looking unsightly come the spring. Don’t despair, they can be repaired. Read on to learn how to how to repair winter damage to your cedars.
Prevent Heavy Bending Branches
During the winter, it is common for snow to sit on top of your cedars, but as heaviness settles in, it may shift down into the branches and cause damage. This can destroy new growth, causing major damage to trees. The best way to remove snow from your top branches is to use a soft broom. You can re-train drooping branches by placing long stakes on either side and tying them together.
Avoid Premature Pruning of Cedar trees
Even though you may be tempted to go pruning at the first sign of damage, you might want to think twice. Premature pruning can kill branches. Therefore, you need to avoid cutting them too soon. When the ground thaws, cedars absorb water and start to rebound. Instead of pruning them, keep your cedar trees well hydrated in the spring. Adding fertilizer to your soil can also improve its nutritional content. When June arrives, check your cedar trees to make sure they have fully recovered from winter damage.
Repair Splits
Winter storms can cause your cedar branches to split open, causing significant damage. But with the proper support, a tree may be able to heal on its own. You could help the tree prevent further damage and possibly heal the break by tying up the broken branches with a soft material.
Check For Dead Branches
To determine whether a branch is dead, simply scratch the surface with your thumbnail. A healthy branch will have green tissue beneath the bark. A branch with brown tissue, on the other hand, has died and needs to be pruned. If you want healthy new growth, make sure all dead, dying, and broken branches are removed.
Shape your Cedar Trees
After removing the dead foliage from your trees, prune your cedars to shape them. When pruning cedars, follow the naturally pyramidal growth pattern, leaving the bottom branches long, and trimming as you move up the structure of the tree.
Prepare In Advance
To protect cedar shrubs from harsh winter weather, wrap them in burlap before winter arrives. Be careful not to snap or damage the leaves when covering the shrub. Taking some simple precautions will help your cedars fight winter damage.
Don’t let the harsh, cold weather wreak havoc on your trees. Keep your cedar trees healthy and looking great all year by repairing winter damage.
Adding beautiful cedars to any landscape is effortless with Fraser Valley Cedars.
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