How to Check Your Trees For Winter Storm Damage
Publish Date: May 16, 2023
Estimated Time: 2 min read
As the weather begins to warm, now is the perfect time to assess the state of your timber stand. Snow and ice can easily wreak havoc on trees, especially if they weren’t in perfect condition at the beginning of winter.
Assessing tree damage will make harvesting safer and optimize accessibility throughout your timber stand.
Checking Your Trees for Winter Storm Damage
While walking or driving your property, there are several signs that your trees may have sustained winter damage — some are more obvious than others.
- Broken or drooping branches
- Broken or missing leaders (the central stem of trees)
- Cracked trunks
- Missing bark
Don’t ignore these issues, especially if you are planning on harvesting timber soon.
How to Prevent Storm Damage to Your Trees
While you won’t be able to prevent all of your trees from winter storm damage, you can definitely minimize it. Here are some things to look for in your timber stand.
- Hollow or decaying branches
- Leaning trees
- Cracks in limbs or trunks
- Fungal growth on trees
If any of these are present, you should address them immediately to maintain a safe and healthy timber stand.
