Nearly every winter, the Palisadian-Post runs a story about a massive tree or branch falling.The news doesn’t surprise Eli Johnson of Johnson Tree Co. “Winter is the time when tree branches are more likely to break,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, tree branches become heavy with new growth from spring and summer. Combine that with winter wind and rain, and it can lead to problems.
The Post asked Johnson for tips to help safeguard your trees throughout the winter months.
Prune. “Now is the best time for pruning,” Johnson said. Pruning alleviates some of the heaviness of the branches, which reduces chances of breakage. How much pruning needs to be done? “Just eliminate the deadwood, any diseased branches and any insect-infested areas,” Johnson said.
Stop overwatering. One of the most common things Johnson sees Palisadians doing wrong is overwatering their trees. “The clay soil in the Palisades doesn’t drain well,” Johnson said. This can lead to oversaturation, which can cause trees to suffer.
Watch where you’re watering. For mature trees, don’t aim sprinklers directly at the tree trunk. “Water at the drip line instead,” Johnson said. Where’s the drip line? It’s located at the end branch of the canopy.
With just these few tips, you can lower the risk of a branch breaking off or a tree falling over.
Eli Johnson is a third-generation tree expert at Johnson Tree Co., which has been providing expert care, maintenance and preservation of Westside trees and landscape for 60 years.
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