Protecting Your Trees During the Winter

By Nancy Penrose

Are your trees ready for winter? Cold weather, winter sun and wind, can damage trees in many different ways, especially foliage that is isolated and exposed to the elements.

During winter, temperatures often fluctuate from daytime warmth when the sun is out, to nighttime cold air and freezing.
Daily changes in temperature can cause tree bark cells to rupture, which can lead to cracking between the outer bark and inner wood. If not too severe, most trees will be able to repair the damage.

Cracking can be prevented by insulating the tree bark using a fabric blanket. The blanket is wrapped around the tree to protect it from the cold weather, while still allowing it to breathe. The blanket will also let in moisture and light.

The cold can also damage late growth, which can result in die-off. The best way to minimize this type of damage is to prune a tree after it becomes dormant.

You should also prune during the fall to prevent snow and winter storms from breaking branches.

Mulching is another way to protect trees when it gets cold. The mulch will help insulate the tree and its roots. It will also minimize water loss. Mulching should take place after the ground freezes.

If you have young trees, their bark may need to be protected from rodents, mice and rabbits. Tree bark is a food source for small animals, especially during the winter. Protect the bark with chicken wire, guards and repellents.

When snow starts accumulating on the branches of big trees, it will need to be removed. Take the snow off gently to prevent branch and tree damage. If ice starts forming, it can be rinsed away with warm water by connecting your garden hose to a hot water faucet. Be careful not to scald the tree. Implementing proper tree care for your landscape, privacy trees, and big trees will help them make it safely through the winter.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys (learn more about Big Trees at http://bigtreesupply.com/about-big-tree-supply/), specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. For more tips on tree care or installation go to privacytree.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOe3ZpFTjc8 and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

BigTreeSupply.com: Tree Storage During Construction

By Nancy Penrose

Remodeling or construction projects can damage trees and bushes. Proper tree care during this time is very important. Any type of soil movement, including changes in grading, can weaken your plants and lead to root issues. Root damage can keep foliage from retaining water and critical supplements. The wellbeing of trees and shrubs can likewise be affected by the expansion of walkways, carports and yards.
It can take years for the damage to become obvious. Early leaf dropping, leaf yellowing, withering, less leaves and dead branches, alongside changes in blooming and seed generation, can be indications that your foliage has been harmed.

Before you start your project, inspect all of the foliage on your property. Identifying trees and bushes you might want to secure is very important. Direct pedestrian activity and equipment paths away from the foliage with fencing and signage. Also make sure any root systems are protected as well.

If you plan to plant new trees and bushes after the project is finished, you can shield the dirt from harm with layers of wood chips. The chips will minimize soil compaction, which can choke out roots.
 
Sometimes, the project may require the site to be cleared. Site clearing can bring about the loss of expensive and crucial plants. It can also cause remaining foliage to lose their sun and wind protection.

One solution to site clearing is evacuating and temporarily storing trees and bushes in another location until the project has been finished. We’ve stored trees and plants for up to three years.

Transporting big trees can require several people and different types of equipment. Properly preparing the root ball before the move is paramount. Root balls should be wrapped and attached accurately to avoid tree shock. Root balls can be 20 feet or more in width and more than 10 feet in depth.

Once the root ball has been wrapped, it should be kept damp, particularly if the tree is being transported to an area that is far away.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys (view Big Trees transplanting page at http://bigtreesupply.com/transplanting/), specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. For more tips on tree installation or care go to bigtreemover.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6vVhNW1XJI and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. to Transplant Large Trees at University Village

Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/) a tree transplant and tree nursery company in the Seattle area, has been asked to help transplant several large trees at the campus of University Village. The busy shopping mall will benefit aesthetically from the larger trees.

Big Trees was asked to bring some trees to the campus of University Village and plant them into a bed where a previous tree had struggled. The planting bed is in a location where thousands of people pass every day, and the trees will help bring some life back to the busy location.

There are 3 large trees being requested for the new planting. One tree was a large 20’ tall by 18’ wide Japanese Maple that had been transplanted out of one of the principal owner’s properties and back to Big Tree’s nursery for storage until a use could be found for its beautiful size and structure. There was a need for two more trees, and the team involved chose two large ‘Pink Chimes’ Styrax trees from their nursery collection to use around the large Japanese Maple.

The project had to occur at night, as there is simply too much traffic in the day time. The trucks had to be parked at one end of the campus, and the trees had to be shuttled across the property to the planting bed, as there was no available parking for their large vehicles near the actual work area. The crew got the trees into position and planted in a manner that will help them thrive in what can be a bed with heavy ground water seeping up from time to time. There were additional soils added to lighten the density of the existing planting medium, and the trees were planted high on berms to help keep them out of possibly damp conditions.

Nancy Penrose, owner of Big Trees, said, “The handling and execution of the process went very well that evening, and the trees look fantastic in their new home! We have had a long, terrific relationship with The University Village staff and property, and it’s very satisfying to drive through and see all the different trees we have handled and how things are cared for. It’s a positive partnership we look forward to maintaining far into the future.”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), 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 can 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 http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/