Around here it’s the ice storms that do the worst damage to trees. They take down trees that looked perfectly sound, and they tend to arrive between December and February. The weeks before that are the time to look up.
Why ice does so much damage
Freezing rain coats every branch and keeps adding weight until something gives. The weak point is usually where two stems meet. A union that carries the tree fine all summer can split when it’s holding a load of ice it was never built for.
That’s why ice storms bring down trees that looked healthy from the ground. The tree wasn’t sick. It had a weak join and too much weight on it.
Two stems growing tight together with bark pinched between them is the single most common failure we see after an ice storm.
What to check before December
As the leaves come off, the structure of a tree gets much easier to see. Walk round the house and look for these:
- Dead limbs over the house, driveway or play area. A tree sheds its dead wood eventually, and it picks the moment. Under ice, dead wood is the first thing to come down.
- Limbs over the roof and gutters. Overhanging limbs are worth getting handled before ice season rather than after.
- Branches near the line from the pole to your house. We can often work around those. A primary utility line is the power company’s to deal with first.
- Two stems pinched tight at the fork. That’s the join that splits when the ice loads up.
- A cavity or soft spot at the base, or a tree leaning further than it used to. Those can fail without warning, in a wind you wouldn’t think twice about.
Not sure what you’re looking at?David will come out, look at it and give you a price. Free, no obligation.
Get a free estimateWhat pruning before winter actually does
Pruning doesn’t make a tree ice-proof. It takes the weakest parts out before the weather finds them.
| Work | What it does before ice season |
|---|---|
| Deadwood removal | Anything dead, dying or broken comes out. The single highest-value thing you can do for a mature tree over a house or driveway. |
| Clearance | Limbs off the roof, off the gutters, out of the driveway and away from the service line to your house. |
| Structural pruning | Younger trees get shaped to grow one strong leader instead of two competing stems. |
| Thinning | Selective removal so wind passes through the canopy instead of pushing against it, without stripping the tree. |
What we won’t do is top the tree. Cutting the crown back to stubs leaves weak, fast-growing shoots on decaying wood, and in five to ten years you have a bigger hazard than you started with. More on how we prune on our tree trimming and pruning page.
Timing notes for this area
- Overhanging limbs: before ice season in December, rather than after.
- Most hardwoods: late winter is ideal. The tree is dormant, the structure is visible with the leaves off, and it heals fast in spring.
- Oaks: best pruned in the dormant season rather than spring, to avoid attracting the beetles that spread oak wilt.
- Dead and storm-damaged wood: any time. There is no season for a dead limb over a driveway.
A Tuesday job or a Sunday-night one
Taking a dead limb off a red maple on a Tuesday costs a fraction of getting the same limb off your roof on a Sunday night, and that’s before you fix the roof. Pruning ahead of the weather is the cheapest tree work there is.
If a tree does come down this winter, our 24/7 emergency line is 540-871-8338. Keep everyone away from anything touching a power line, and call the power company first. Here’s what to do while you wait for the crew.
Frequently asked questions
Can a healthy tree come down in an ice storm?
Yes. Ice storms take down trees that looked perfectly sound. The weak point is usually a tight fork where two stems meet with bark pinched between them.
When should I prune before winter?
Get overhanging limbs handled before ice season in December. For most hardwoods, late winter is the ideal time for general pruning. Dead and hazardous wood comes out whenever you find it.
Will pruning hurt the tree?
Done properly, no. Done badly, yes. The two things that damage trees are topping and removing too much live canopy at once. We take what needs to come off and leave the tree able to feed itself.
Can you just cut the limbs over my roof?
Yes, and that’s one of the most common jobs we do. We’ll also tell you if the rest of the tree needs attention, but the clearance work stands on its own.
Do you clean up the brush?
Always. Chipped and hauled, and the yard raked before we go.
