How Do I Care for My Trees in Winter?

By Nancy Penrose

Winter can present some challenges for trees and one of the most common questions we hear is, “Do I need to do anything with my trees during winter.” Occasionally we see trees die in the winter from unusually cold temperatures, or breakage from the weight of heavy wet snow. There are a few simple practices you can take to ensure your trees survive the winter and continue to from and flourish year after year.

1. Prune areas of concern.

With tree limbs that extend over a house, fence, parked cars, etc., you’ll want to watch out for areas that appear to be heavy or weighted down. Pruning is important for removing dead limbs as well as thinning to reduce the weight on branch ends. Pruning in the late fall just after deciduous trees drop their leaves, is an ideal time to prune. As with most things, if you are doubt, consult your local professional.

2. Protect Young Trees from Freezing

Young trees are more at risk from damage from unusually cold winter temperatures. Sudden drops in overnight temperatures can cause the sap in the tree to freeze. Damage occurs on the lower southwest portion of the trunk when the morning sun quickly warms the frozen sap, causing it to expand and the trunk to split. This is known as frost cracks or southwest winter injury. To protect young trees consider wrapping young tree trunks with tree wrap or cardboard on exceptionally cold winter nights.

3. Mulch

A 2-inch layer of mulch is an excellent way of maintaining the right amount of moisture and warmth for a tree. Be careful not to over mulch. Over-mulching, with a large mound of mulch all around the tree, can hold moisture against the trunk of the tree and cause it to rot. Lightly mulch and leave some room for the tree to breathe at the base of the trunk.

4. Year-Round Maintenance

Keeping your trees healthy during the spring and summer can go a long way towards helping your trees survive the winter. Monitoring irrigation water, mulching, and structural pruning are all great ways of accomplishing this. Consulting a tree professional and following good maintenance guidelines will ensure you have trees that will grow for years to come.

If you have any questions about caring for your tree, you can always contact us at Big Trees Inc. at 360-563-2700 for consultation on your tree maintenance needs.

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

Big Trees Inc.
10928 Springhetti Rd
Snohomish, WA 98296
360-563-2700
https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/
https://arboristblog.com
https://bigtreesupply.com

Big Trees Inc. Helps Family Preserve Memorial Tree

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (https://bigtreesupply.com/), tree transplanting and tree nursery company in the Seattle area, recently helped a family save an important memorial tree. The family, locals in Snohomish, had a memorial tree dedicated to their son and had to find a way to preserve the tree despite a planned move. Big Trees helped relocate the tree successfully so it could be celebrated by the family for years to come.

The company was first approached by the family in the Fall of 2020 about moving the memorial tree. The family had dedicated the tree, a 20’ Blossoming Cherry Tree, in the memory of their son who died at birth 8 years ago. However, the family was planning on moving, but not to a permanent location, so they were not able to take the tree with them. The family contacted the City of Snohomish and were able to work out an alternate solution, moving the tree to one of the city’s parks.

Once the sale of the house was completed the logistics of the tree transplanting could also be finalized. In late December 2020, Big Trees Inc., was able to dig up the memorial tree and move it to a relatively new park in Snohomish, in an ideal location for a large canopy tree. The family was extremely happy with the new location and grateful for Big Trees’. help.

"The cherry tree extraction turned out really well, and the tree looks fantastic in its new location," said Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees. "I love it when we can help people save trees AND preserve memories. This was win-win for all parties involved."

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at https://bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

Big Trees Inc.
10928 Springhetti Rd
Snohomish, WA 98296
360-563-2700

Silva Construction: “Earthquakes Can Damage Homes, Badly”

California Construction Company Advises Homeowners on Earthquake Preparedness

SAN PEDRO, CA: Silva Construction https://www.silvaconstruction.com/ a remodeling and construction company in southern California, has issued an advisory warning to homeowners on earthquake preparedness. Due to the large number of earthquakes happening in California, the company has advised homeowners to get professional assessments of their homes to determine any possible risks to their home’s safety in the event of an earthquake, and to get these problems addressed.

Silva Construction has over 40 years of experience in working with homeowners on constructing, remodeling and repairing homes. Dave Silva, co-owner of the company, stated the following: “Most homeowners are not prepared for an earthquake because for long periods of time it’s just out of mind. Because it’s not happening right now, they don’t think with it as a problem. But this area does get earthquakes. It is not a question of ‘if’ there will be another big one, it is a matter of ‘when.’ And we don’t know when it will be.

“The first thing that a homeowner can do to check for earthquake preparedness is look and see if there are any cracks in the floors or the walls of a house. Even if these are small, they indicate several problems which could become very big problems in the event of an earthquake. The biggest thing to check for is a home’s foundation. It is very worthwhile to have a home’s foundation inspected about twice a year to ensure it is in good condition. Problems with a home’s foundation can often go unnoticed, and this is the thing that will cause the most trouble when an earthquake strikes.

“Getting your home inspected to ensure it is in good condition and getting any needed maintenance done will go a long ways to helping a home stand up better in the event of an earthquake and ensuring the safety of everyone.”

Dave Silva and David Clarke are owners of Silva Construction, Inc., located in San Pedro, CA. The company has over 40 years of experience in remodeling construction, and serves Southern California’s South Bay area, including Westchester, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Harbor City, Lomita, Torrance, and other select areas. Their blog can be seen at https://www.silvaconstruction.com/blog3/ and their website can be seen at https://www.silvaconstruction.com/. They can be reached at 310-831-6310.