Don’t Skip a Winter Tree Inspection: Why Cold Weather Reveals Hidden Tree Risks

Despite popular belief, winter tree inspections are just as crucial as those during the growing season. Leaf-off visibility and the increased risk of damage from heavy precipitation make winter inspections vital to your seasonal tree maintenance checklist.

Read on to learn why a tree inspection in winter is a vital part of your cold-weather tree care routine.

Should I Get Trees Inspected in Winter?

Leaf-off tree inspections expose potentially dangerous structural damage that could be covered by foliage, including deadwood, cracks, weak unions, and codominant stems. Frozen ground is firm enough to allow for easier equipment access without causing as much damage to the lawn and soil. But be careful not to cause unnecessary turf damage.

Since there are fewer disease vectors present during cold weather, it’s also an ideal time for pruning. Dormant pruning may reduce the risk of disease infection.

Can Arborists Work in Cold Weather?

Arborists’ knowledge and experience span all four seasons. If you call your local arborist to help with cold-weather tree care, here are some inspections  s/he performs to check for damage:

• Structural Defects – Bark defects, end-weight, storm scars, and hanging or dead limbs.
• Trunk or Root Issues — Root flare depth, girdling roots, fresh leans, and root-plate heave
• Ice and Snow Damage on Trees – Frost cracks, sunscald, salt spray injury, and winter burn on evergreens.
• Overhead targets and Property Hazards – Driveways, play areas, and service lines.

Is Winter a Good Time to Prune Trees?

Winter tree pruning is a great time to reduce end-weight in your canopy before heavy storms and ice. Trim limbs that you have identified as likely to fail and consider cabling or bracing when needed.

Certified arborists use cables and bracing rods as additional support for weak trees. Cables strategically placed between limbs can distribute the weight of snow and ice more evenly, while bracing rods bolt limbs together. While bracing and cabling trees are helpful methods, they don’t eliminate the risk of failure from heavy snow.

A combination of pruning and cabling or bracing can help lighten a tree’s load during the winter.

Region-Specific Watch Outs for October - March

While there are general rules of thumb for winter tree maintenance, not every region in the U.S. experiences winter the same. Here are some region-specific conditions to look out for during the winter months:

• Northeast/Great Lakes – Ice storms, heavy wet snow, road-salt exposure. Make sure to check roadside canopies and salt-splash.
• Midwest/Plains/Rockies – Freeze–thaw cycles, high winds. Watch for new leans and root heave.
• Pacific Northwest/Northern California – Saturated soils and wind events. Inspect roots and buttress decay on evergreens.
• South/Southeast – Mild dormancy allows for winter pruning, while coastal wind/salt and occasional ice can lead to winter burn and broken leaders for evergreen.
• Mountain/High-Altitude West – Extreme temperature swings and snow loading.

When to Call in the Professionals

When trees experience damage from heavy snowfall, ice, or other winter weather events, they can create hazardous conditions . If you spot fresh cracks, see sudden leaning, hanging limbs, and as well as branches hanging over critical infrastructure, call your local arborist. 

MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY FOR WINTER WITH OUR TREE CARE CHECKLIST