Seeing snow bent trees might prompt you to run outside and shake your plants of their burden. But should you?
Bill, a Davey blog reader from Utah, wondered if this was the best approach. When he noticed his spruce branches stacked with snow and bending straight down, he asked, “Should I shake the trees or otherwise try to remove the snow from the branches?”
We always want to jump in and take action when it seems our trees are in trouble, but in this case, it’s best to let them be. Keep reading to find out why.
Generally, the answer is no. Heavy snow and ice can make tree branches brittle. So, when you shake the weak limbs, you could actually break or snap the branches.
Once snow buries tree branches, your best bet is to leave them alone.
But there are two things you can do: tend to light, cottony snow and give your tree a good once-over when spring arrives.
Use this step-by-step guide to help snow-bent trees: