Icicles might look decorative and charming if they hang from the roof edge, but these ice layers that cover trees and shrubs can cause damage and are dangerous. Therefore, what should you do with ice-coated trees or shrubs?

In this article, you will learn tips on what to do if your tree branches are covered in ice. Aside from having to find an arborist, you can do other things as well.

So, read this article to find out more about these tips.

Do the Smaller Tasks

You can clear away ice and broken branches from smaller trees and shrubs which you can reach easily from the ground. Make sure to wear a hardhat while you do this and prune out the damaged branches with hand pruners or loppers, while moving them away from entrances and walkways.

Never walk under branches loaded with ice, even if you are wearing a hard hat. Always steer clear from dangerous, overhead ice and allow it to naturally melt. Experts will be the ones to handle those.

Access Damages

Check all the trees that are on your property. If you see any damage, some of them might be obvious and others are not. In case you are unsure, talk to a tree pruning expert to do an inspection.

The common tree damage signs after the winter storm are:

• Torn bark
• Branches that are hanging and broken
• Damaged or broken cabling
• Branches and trees bent under snow/ice weight
• A tree that already split apart
• A leaning tree
• Missing or broken leader
• Cracked or split branches (they are not always obvious)

Trees Might Recover on Their Own

Chances are, after the storm, the ice and snow will only melt and fall off from the trees and shrubs. The healthy tree limbs are flexible, and a lot of them will just bounce back to normal positions after they are bent beneath the ice.

Some branches will not recover, but they need pruning. Any tree branches that are damaged or broken do not block or cause a hazard to cars, structures, or pedestrians may stay in place until the storm has passed and it is safe to cut them already.

What You Should Avoid Doing

You might think that removing the ice helps your shrub or tree, but that is not really the cause. Do not shake the shrub or tree or use a broom or rake to hit it. This is only done to damage the tree and causes the snow, ice, or branches to break and fall.

Do not spray them with water to try melting the ice because the added water is just going to turn into ice, which worsens the problem.

Lastly, avoid using any type of salt or ice melt on or around plants because this is going to kill them. You might have noticed that some of the plants or trees near the roads or walkways that were treated with ice melt products normally turn brown or die because of the salt.

What Can Be Waited Out

There are times when the best option is to wait for the ice to melt completely. Most of the trees and shrubs will recover from trees and caused by the ice and it should normally function by springtime.

If you need extra help, you can contact emergency tree storm services Chevy Chase anytime.