CNY winters can take a toll on trees

040403 ICE 1 GW.JPGCity of Oswego DPW crews clear West 3rd Street of ice-covered tree limbs after an April ice storm in 2003.

By Sara Tracey
Contributing writer

Winter weather can take a toll on the emotions of Central New Yorkers, but there's another group of organisms feeling the pain: Trees.

Depending on what kind of winter Central New York is experiencing, Jason Pieklik of Bartlett Tree Experts said his office receives a flurry of phone calls due to tree-related issues.

"If we have heavy, wet snow, something we usually see early in the season, we get a lot of calls," said Pieklik, a Bartlett representative. "The weather conditions really dictate how busy we are."

Surprise snowstorms outside of regular winter months cause wet snow and ice to cling to persistent leaves, causing tree casualties. The added weight can severely beat up the local plantlife, Pieklik said. At the end of March several years ago, one snowfall added so much weight to some trees that branches peeled away from trunks like skins from bananas, he said. This year's freak snowstorm in late October that hit the Northeast (but spared Syracuse) would have caused this kind of damage, he said.

Deciduous trees, like silver maples, honey locusts and emerald ashes, can't take the brunt of damage quite like firs and pines, said Onondaga County arborist Steve Harris. The cone-like shape of conifers means that falling snow isn't trapped on the branches quite like maples.

October Snow.JPGWearing Bermuda shorts and sneakers without socks, homeowner Vinny Frisina looks over a downed tree that collapsed on top of his car during an October snowstorm in Cortlandt.

Winter can actually be the most helpful season for trees, Pieklik said. Because there are no more leaves on the trees, there's nothing left to veil scars caused by previous storms or visible signs of rot, both of which can cause more damage.

Both Pieklik and Harris agree that the most effective way to prevent wreckage is to bring in an expert. Having a professional arborist to asses any potential harms could cost much less than any potential devastation to homes and property would, they said. Pieklik recommends an annual check-up for trees.


Here are some do's and don'ts in terms of tree care after a winter storm hits:

-DO remove small branches or debris as a preventative action to ensure safety and prevent additional property damage.

-DON'T take on the big trees yourself. If trees or large branches have fallen, Jason Pieklik of Bartlett Tree Experts recommends homeowners to not remove the branches by themselves. "A fallen tree has a lot of pressure points, and someone untrained who doesn't understand those should not try to take the tree apart," he said.

-DO have previous damage taken care of. Trees that have parted ways with their branches after a storm should be cut to the branch collar, where the tree branches off. Newly sprouted branches have weak attachments from where they were ripped apart previously, and can be a site of future damage, said Onondaga County arborist Steve Harris.

-DON'T prune trees yourself. Pieklik said most homeowners saw off more than necessary when trimming the tree, making it more prone to future winter storm devastation. A lot of times, a homeowner will "lion tail" a tree, which happens when branches are trimmed from the sides, leaving a plume of branches in one area.