How to Shovel Snow Without Harming Your Landscaping Trees

If you live in Indiana, or a region of the country where snow is likely come wintertime, then you may face a separate agenda for landscaping care then the rest of the nation. Snow fall can bring beautiful ambience and family fun; however, when it comes to your beloved landscaping and trees, snow can be a faint threat unless confronted properly.

It is important as a home or property owner to know how to take care of landscaping and trees. Your trees reduce outside noise, allow privacy, encourage wind flow for cool breezes in summer, and much more. Be sure to protect your investments and sustain an aesthetically pleasing outdoor ambience by learning about proper winter tree and landscaping care. 

Continue reading to learn, specifically, how to shovel snow without harming trees and landscaping on your property this winter.

Winter Tree Service in Fishers, Indiana
Winter Tree Service in Fishers, Indiana 317-537-9770

Snow and Ice Melting Products Can Be Harmful

When the snow comes down, we begin our wintertime rituals. This includes sprinkling our de-icing products, salting our driveways, and of course, shoveling snow. Unfortunately, some products on the market today may contain ingredients that are harmful to our trees and landscaping. Materials like rock salt and other de-icers can contain elements like sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and magnesium chloride; all of which can be harmful to vegetation if over applied.  Urea, a plant fertilizer is another strategy used to melt snow and ice; but it can also harm plants and trees if over applied.  Common damages are dead grass and plants, scald pots, burn marks, cracked bark, peeling tree bark, and many more.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to using harsh products with high salt amounts.  For example, many property owners are discovering that environmentally friendly options work well.   Materials like sand, sawdust, wood shavings, granite dust, and even cat litter are safe for pets and the environment.  They are also cheaper and can potentially save a person hundreds of dollars each year!

Methods of Proper Snow Shoveling That Will Prevent Tree Damage

When it comes to actually shoveling snow, it is important to take your time. Improper use of a shovel can damage plants, roots, and trees. It can be difficult determining where a plant lies, or tree roots begin beneath five inches of snow; but use these guidelines and tips next time you need to shovel your walkways, patios, porches, and driveway:

❆ Use a broom to gently sweep the first two layers of snow away from tree bases, plants, and garden perimeters. Sweep gently until base or perimeter is virtually exposed.

❆ Shovel slowly and in small amounts.

❆ In heavily covered areas away from trees and landscaping, use the shovel to push the snow rather than lift the snow.

❆ Use a plastic shovel near trees and foliage rather than aluminum or other metallic shovels.  Plastic is less harmful to trees and plants.

❆ Do not attempt to remove ice from tree limbs. It can cause branches to break off or become damaged.

❆ Wait until snow and ice are melting to clear covered tree limbs and plants.

Protect Yourself From Harm Too

Always protect yourself when shoveling snow near covered trees and landscaping. You can easily become injured if a large chunk of ice or snow falls on top of you.  Be sure to let a friend or loved one know you are shoveling snow near tall or heavily snow-covered trees before you leave. It is recommended to hire professional snow removal companies to assist you in difficult or dangerous snow removal jobs. For easier tasks, be sure to still protect yourself from falling ice, snow, and branches.

Where to Get Certified Tree Service in Fishers, Indiana

Call 317-537-9770 for professional and affordable Fishers tree service to keep your trees healthy all season long. We are licensed and insured tree care specialists with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. We provide residential and commercial tree services at the most competitive prices in Fishers. Request a free estimate or information about our tree service coupons, today!

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The Most Common Types of Winter Tree Damages

Wintertime is one of the most destructive seasons of the year considering how impactful snow, ice, and cold temperatures can be, not only to people, but also to our surrounding structures. One of the most vulnerable assets on our properties are our landscaping trees. They are highly susceptible to all sorts of winter damage. For this reason, it is important to protect your trees before the winter is officially in full affect.

Continue reading to learn the most common types of winter tree damages to be on the lookout for this season, as well as, how to protect your landscaping trees from such seasonal harm.

Winter Tree Service Company 317-537-9770
Fishers Tree Service Company 317-537-9770

Snow and Ice Damage

As mentioned, snow and ice are incredibly destructive, especially when it comes to trees and shrubs. Not only can the weight of the snow and ice jeopardize the structural integrity and strength of such flora, the mere amount of excess moisture can cause an extensive amount of damage to the entire tree, as well as the root system and surrounding soil.

In order to protect your trees and shrubs from snow and ice damage in the winter, it is important to mulch properly, stake your trees if they are young or vulnerable, and consider wrapping the trunk and burlap material to retain warmth through the entirety of the season. Then when spring comes, be sure to stay on top of your tree’s pruning needs. When trees are pruned properly, there is less risk of broken branches and limbs as a result of heavy snow and ice accumulation.

Heavy Wind Damage

in the winter, snow and ice are not the only climate changes that can affect your landscaping. Strong winds are another common seasonal occurrence. Not only can they cause branches and tree limbs to break off, heavy winds can topple trees over completely. This is incredibly dangerous if trees are near houses, cars, playgrounds, and other areas where there is lots of human traffic or assets. In order to protect your trees from heavy wind damage, you might want to consider cabling embracing trees that are very young or vulnerable. Vulnerable trees would be trees that are sick, dying, leaning, or otherwise structurally-compromised.

Tree Trunk and Root Damage

A tree’s trunk and root system is important because it grounds the tree and provides strength, stability, and nourishment. However, in the wintertime, inclement weather and cold temperatures can affect the quality of tree trunks and tree bark, and ultimately the underground root system. In order to protect your trees from trunk and root damage in the winter, it is important to ensure your trees are being properly fertilized, mulched, watered, and given plenty of sunlight. If you have questions about proper tree care in the springtime, see our blog, “What Should I Do For My Trees Right Before Spring?” to learn more.

Get Professional Tree Care in Fishers, Indiana

Call 317-537-9770 for professional Fishers tree service you can trust. We are highly trained and experienced tree care contractors that offer a wide range of residential and commercial tree services at competitive prices. We also offer tree service coupons and discounts! Request a free estimate for Fishers tree service, today.

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Fishers Tree Service Coupons 317-537-9770

How Does Winter Weather Affect Landscaping Trees?

There are two different kinds of trees that we see in Indiana, deciduous trees and conifers. Conifers, or evergreens, are the pine and fir trees that keep their foliage all year long; while deciduous trees are those that lose their foliage in the winter seasons. Continue reading to learn more about conifers and deciduous trees, and how the winter weather can affect them both.

Conifers

Conifers are also called softwoods or evergreen trees. The popular species of these trees in Indiana are the Northern White Cedar and Junipers. The term conifer refers to the type of “fruit” that the tree grows. These are usually the pine cones or woody cones we see at certain times of the year; although some conifers, like Junipers, bore tiny berry-like fruits that are not meant to be consumed by humans or pets. Softwoods have needle-like foliage, often green in color, but can range from yellows to oranges, and even shades of blue. The differences among species of conifers is their branch and bud distribution, needle color, yielded fruits, tree size, and more. In the winter, these species of tree do not shed their foliage, nor does their foliage change in color. They remain “ever-green” all year long! So in conclusion, conifers are not significantly affected by winter weather, but they do prepare for winter seasons by storing up extra water and nutrients in the soil surrounding their root systems.

Deciduous Trees

The term “deciduous” literally means to “fall off at maturity” or “tending to fall off”, which refers to their foliage loss in winter climates. Every autumn, deciduous trees change leaf color, and then lose their leaves, leaving their branches exposed and bare. This process is called abscission. Although the foliage may be gone for now, they tree is not dead, but simply dormant. It will await the start of spring to bloom more buds and regrow its leaves. There are several species of deciduous trees, ranging in size, color, shape, smell, fruits, and more. Examples of such trees include Maple trees, Ash trees, willow trees, apple trees, oak trees, and cherry blossoms. Trees are not the only deciduous plant in nature. Shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and some plants also experience abscission.

Be sure to protect your landscaping trees this winter by laying down an extra layer of mulch or soil before the freeze-thaw cycles begin and before the first big snowfall. Also, water your trees as much as possible leading up to deep winter. This way, they have plenty of excess water and nutrients to keep them healthy while dormant. You may also want to apply soil additives for additional nutritional value. This is helpful and recommended for newly planted trees or young trees. Contact a professional tree service company for industry advice and information you can trust.

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Tree Service Coupon Fishers Indiana 317-537-9770

Tree Service Coupon Fishers Indiana 317-537-9770

Call 317-537-9770 for professional information and advice regarding tree service in Fishers, Indiana. We are highly trained and qualified arborists with several decades of experience in the tree removal and service industry. We provide a wide-range of tree care services for both residential and commercial properties. You can trust you are receiving the most accurate and honest advice about winter tree protection and more. Call our professionals at 317-537-9770 to learn more about Fishers tree service today.

Winter Preparation Tips for Young or Newly Planted Trees

Winter is on its way, which to the average homeowner means, preventative maintenance time. On top of all the other chores and projects homeowners take on before winter sets in, it is important to pay attention to any newly planted or young-growth trees. They can fall victim to the harsh winter climates and freezing temperatures if certain precautions are taken before hand. Because trees are beautiful, beneficial, and costly, no one wants to lose one if it can be prevented. Continue reading to learn some tips for preparing younger or recently-planted trees for winter.

Mulching

Mulch is one of the best defenses against cold winter temperatures and precipitation. It acts as insulation, protecting the tree’s root system below by sealing in heat in the soil. It provides protection against wind, frost, snow, and freezing temperatures. Although it seems counterproductive to lay mulch before the snow, a newly planted tree can quickly die or upheave without proper root protection. The easiest and best way to achieve this is with mulch.

Tree Trunk Guards

Not only can the cold affect trees, the sunlight can too. Sun scald is a common problem for new trees or young trees. Too much exposure to bright sunlight will cause the tree’s bark to peel, crack, die, and drop off. It creates fissures and other damages on the tree bark that can jeopardize the health of the tree. To prevent this, simple wrap your young or newly planted tree trunks with a tree guard or plastic wrap, or another store-bought tree wrapping material. These wraps insulate the tree and reflect the sunlight back off the bark, preventing scald damage. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to install as well.

Branch Protection

Winter precipitation can become too heavy for newly planted or young trees to handle. Too much snow or ice can cause tree branches to crack, break, and fall. To prevent this, wrap tree branches in burlap, or install tree stakes to hold limbs in place.

Tree Service Fishers Indiana

Tree Service Coupon Fishers Indiana 317-537-9770

Tree Service Coupon Fishers Indiana 317-537-9770

Call 317-537-9770 for more information about tree care and tree service in Fishers, Indiana. We are highly trained and qualified arborists with decades of experience in the tree removal and service industry. We provide a wide range of tree services for residential and commercial properties; like tree transplanting, pruning, trimming, tree disease treatment, tree removal, and much more. We also offer free estimates, free advice, coupons, discounts, and more! Call 317-537-9770 for professional tree removal services in Fishers, IN today.