Protect Your Trees From Being Frozen
Yesterday as the temperatures hit the big minus I had to remain indoors and could not go out to work on my landscape. It is a task that I relish and I have a skill with tree care. The storms, ice and fluctuating temperatures and the below zero drop in temperature take their toll on trees in North America. With such harsh condition in Illinois must be disturbing the delicate biochemistry of the trees. Some of these imbalances are unavoidable. We might not have control over the climate but we can however control the damage to the trees. You can however do your little bit to protect your trees in winter.
Cold stress has a number of forms. The first is the effect on older plants of a fast change between day time heat and night cold. These temperature modifications can lead to pressures within the shrub between the external debris and inner wood leading to breaks called frost breaking. This happens on the side of the tree that receives the most sunlight. Sadly little can be done to prevent this. The tree can heal itself but it is not protected from more subsequent damage. You can however cover up the damaged part to limit the damage to the tree.
Another cold stress is the effect of a rapid early freeze on delayed development. Late period shrub development is insecure because it does not have the same time as recognized development to get ready for freezing. Ice deposits can crack the mobile surfaces on the new tips of divisions resulting in die off the following period. You should prevent trimming until after the shrub has gone into dormancy in the drop. Pruning too soon might motivate new development and improve the chance of snow harm. Also, prevent use of fertilizers with high volumes of quick-release Nitrogen. Plants can certainly advantage from appropriate fall fertilizing, but it is important to know what to prevent for proper tree care. If you feel that you need a lot of work done you can always contact a certified arborist.