We have been a part of the tree and landscaping businesses for over 40 years caring for the health and safety of trees and plant life. Bradley Tree has been serving the Western New York area mainly around Buffalo and will continue to do so with our great team of arborists who detect issues, treat illnesses, diagnose underlying causes for concern, and develop a plan to get your landscape on the right track.
With the new Spring and Summer seasons around the corner, we want your trees to be in top condition and this blog will give you the best information you need to prepare.
Checking for Tree Damage Caused by Winter Snow and Cold
When the weather clears up and the snow is all gone, you’re going to want to get out and take a good look at your trees to check for any damage. When assessing potential damage on your trees you’re looking top to bottom for broken twigs and branches, holes in the trunk, cracks, and decay. Tree decay can include the growth of fungal bodies, or areas of loose or missing bark.
Snow can cause damage to branches if enough of it sits on the tree for an extended period of time. If you remember the October storm, we saw so many trees lose limbs because of the snow load on leaves that had yet to fall off.
If the soil around your trees seems compacted or low quality due to the winter, that can prevent air and water from reaching the roots. It may be a good idea to consider adding some new soil or mulch to the ground surrounding your plants and trees. If you’re unsure of what to do, we can certainly give you an assessment to let you know if that would be necessary.
Different Trees Have Different Needs
As we outline on our website in one of our past blogs, WNY is home to many different tree types. The Red Maple, Oak trees, Flowering Dogwood, Eastern White Pine, White Spruce, and Tulip trees.
For Red Maples as an example, prune them with caution by removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Don’t overly fertilize red maples and just put down the right amount. Eastern White Pines can grow using sandy soil mixed with silt and clay, unlike red maples which can utilize more moist and acidic soil.
Most other tree types carry the same inspection processes and require it to see if the tree is healthy or not. Inspection, proper watering, remove decay, fungi/insect-rooted spots, and then apply rich soil to each specific tree.
READ MORE: Understanding Magnolia Scale: Causes and Symptoms
Watching the WNY Spring Weather Can Help You Be Prepared
Here in WNY, we have some sporadic weather patterns. No spring is the same. Monitoring the weather can certainly help you keep your trees safe.
When looking ahead, the long-range weather reports for the Buffalo and Western New York areas paint an interesting picture of what we should expect. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Spring season going into April will see rain and sunny conditions on and off.
April and May will be warmer than normal, with rainfall above normal in the east and below normal in the west. The positives of a wet spring for trees include increased growth and foliage, improved root development, and soil fertility replenishing nutrients for the soil.
Some potential risks of a wet spring, however, would be increased pests, possible diseases, or erosion. Trees get their growth from warmer temperatures as well so here’s hoping Spring is not too hot and overly rainy this year to sustain. Take care of your trees in and around those spurts of different weather and temperatures. They depend on you!
What if My Tree is Dead and Can’t Bloom?
We don’t prefer to just come out and tear out a tree, we love saving them, but, dead trees can cause serious harm to your property if not treated immediately. If your tree can’t sustain anymore, reach out to us and we will help you no matter what kind of tree you have. A professional arborist should make a risk assessment of your tree removal to help you better understand what the next steps are. You can make an appointment for an assessment easily, by just reaching out to us at Bradley Tree and we will be there whenever you need it.