Snow/ice damage to arborvitae - Ask Extension
A January snow storm weighed heavily on my row of arborvitae trees, bending several and even cracking one trunk. The bends are about 2/3 the way up ...
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Snow/ice damage to arborvitae #859656
Asked February 22, 2024, 2:53 PM EST
A January snow storm weighed heavily on my row of arborvitae trees, bending several and even cracking one trunk. The bends are about 2/3 the way up the trunks; they are about 15' tall. A couple of the trees are bent over my fence. Is there some approach to salvaging them without spending an arm and a leg? Thank you.
Kent County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Nancy, it would be very helpful if you could send pictures of the bent trees and also of the crack in the one tree.
Since your arbs are bent about 10 feet up, can you see the damage well enough to be sure they’re not broken or cracked?
Since your arbs are bent about 10 feet up, can you see the damage well enough to be sure they’re not broken or cracked?
Thank you for returning my query. I need things cleaned up to address my fence replacement... I have attached three photos.
I have not been able to get high enough to check out the tops to see if they are cracked/broken.
I look forward to your input.
Best,
Nancy Pattison
Due to their multi-stemmed nature, arborvitae are
especially susceptible to having their limbs distorted from heavy snow loads. These loads cause the branches to bend and separate from the center of the plant. If the snow load is heavy enough, the branch will break (as your one tree has done).
The question becomes "What do I do with arborvitaes once they've been damaged?" This is typically a case-by-case call and requires some experience and judgment. Branches that are broken certainly need to be properly pruned. For branches that are simply bent, it may be possible to train them back into position. Branches tied or trained back into position will continue to produce new wood and may return to form. It is essential that ties or straps used for training are left on the tree for no more than two seasons. Training materials that are forgotten and left in place will eventually girdle branches and kill them. Lastly, if you cannot safely do the work from the ground or a small stepladder, it’s time to contact a professional arborist.
Because your trees are bent about ten feet off the ground, this job is best left to the professionals. An arborist is a certified and generally insured expert in trees and their problems. He or she can examine your trees and make recommendations regarding the health of the tree, any needed judicial pruning, and whether or not (in his opinion) it should be removed. Hiring a certified arborist will ensure that you are getting a knowledgeable and qualified tree specialist.
You can find a certified arborist in your area here:
http://www.treesaregood.org/
Click on "Find an Arborist" at the top of the page; then click on United States from the pull-down menu. Then enter your State and City. This should bring up a list of certified arborists nearest to you. Or you may be able to locate one under "Tree Services" in your local Yellow Pages.
In the future try to remove snow from your arbs as soon as the storm stops by using a broom to gently jostle the branches so as not to damage the bark or limbs. But I'm not sure you could reach high enough even with a broom for your tall trees! Cold weather causes the limbs to be brittle; hence they break easily. Do not sweep upwards.
Sometimes if only an individual branch is bent and the bend is not too high off the ground, you can try to reposition it by tying it to other branches within the shrub.
To do that, you tie a soft rope (or old nylons) around the vertical trunks both above and below where it's bent. Then attach a rope to that and pull the tree straight. Anchor the rope to the ground, and leave it on for at least six months if it's bent badly. There is no guarantee the tree will be perfectly straightened. This task can be very dangerous.
It is doubtful that the your broken tree can be salvaged, but an arborist can examine it and know for sure if can be saved or should be removed.
I wish there were an easy fix for your arborvitaes. Once they get so tall many folks opt to remove them and start over; that may be a better option for you.
Good luck!
especially susceptible to having their limbs distorted from heavy snow loads. These loads cause the branches to bend and separate from the center of the plant. If the snow load is heavy enough, the branch will break (as your one tree has done).
The question becomes "What do I do with arborvitaes once they've been damaged?" This is typically a case-by-case call and requires some experience and judgment. Branches that are broken certainly need to be properly pruned. For branches that are simply bent, it may be possible to train them back into position. Branches tied or trained back into position will continue to produce new wood and may return to form. It is essential that ties or straps used for training are left on the tree for no more than two seasons. Training materials that are forgotten and left in place will eventually girdle branches and kill them. Lastly, if you cannot safely do the work from the ground or a small stepladder, it’s time to contact a professional arborist.
Because your trees are bent about ten feet off the ground, this job is best left to the professionals. An arborist is a certified and generally insured expert in trees and their problems. He or she can examine your trees and make recommendations regarding the health of the tree, any needed judicial pruning, and whether or not (in his opinion) it should be removed. Hiring a certified arborist will ensure that you are getting a knowledgeable and qualified tree specialist.
You can find a certified arborist in your area here:
http://www.treesaregood.org/
Click on "Find an Arborist" at the top of the page; then click on United States from the pull-down menu. Then enter your State and City. This should bring up a list of certified arborists nearest to you. Or you may be able to locate one under "Tree Services" in your local Yellow Pages.
In the future try to remove snow from your arbs as soon as the storm stops by using a broom to gently jostle the branches so as not to damage the bark or limbs. But I'm not sure you could reach high enough even with a broom for your tall trees! Cold weather causes the limbs to be brittle; hence they break easily. Do not sweep upwards.
Sometimes if only an individual branch is bent and the bend is not too high off the ground, you can try to reposition it by tying it to other branches within the shrub.
To do that, you tie a soft rope (or old nylons) around the vertical trunks both above and below where it's bent. Then attach a rope to that and pull the tree straight. Anchor the rope to the ground, and leave it on for at least six months if it's bent badly. There is no guarantee the tree will be perfectly straightened. This task can be very dangerous.
It is doubtful that the your broken tree can be salvaged, but an arborist can examine it and know for sure if can be saved or should be removed.
I wish there were an easy fix for your arborvitaes. Once they get so tall many folks opt to remove them and start over; that may be a better option for you.
Good luck!
Hi,
Excellent advice. I removed the heavy snow from several other trees this time, but did not realize the arborvitae were so fragile or I would have tried there as well. They always bounced back in the past!
Live and learn - and I appreciate what I have learned from you all.
Best,
Nancy Pattison
(former Master Gardener)