Despite a series of snowstorms hitting Iowa since Thanksgiving, a horticulture expert is advising homeowners to use a gentle touch when clearing winter weather from their trees and shrubs.
Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says that while sagging limbs can be alarming, most plants are naturally equipped to handle the weight. Steil notes that plants generally do a decent job of shedding snow on their own, though homeowners can safely assist by lightly brushing branches with a hand or a broom.
The danger increases significantly when ice enters the forecast. Steil warns that ice causes far more damage to young plants than snow, but cautions that the “urge to help” can backfire. Attempting to manually remove ice from frozen boughs or limbs often causes more structural harm to the plant than the ice itself.
Homeowners should also avoid using hot water to melt the buildup, as the extreme temperature shift can damage plant tissues. According to Steil, the safest and most effective remedy for an ice-coated tree is patience, allowing the sun to naturally warm the branches and melt the ice away.
