Snow or ice on your cedars?
Snow or ice has fallen in abundance and you wonder if your cedars could use a little help to get rid of their weight? Read on!
THE JOYS OF WINTER
During significant heavy snowfalls, it is important to ensure that the cedars do not suffer from this excessive additional weight. In order to evacuate the overflow, we recommend to lightly stir the tops of your cedars with a long stick, a broom or a snow shovel. It is not necessary to remove the snow completely, only to “relieve” your trees.
As for ice, it’s the opposite! It is completely inadvisable to stir the cedars when the branches are icy: stirring icy branches could break the branches and cause ‘holes’ in your hedge.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
To prevent snow or ice from damaging your cedar hedge, there are various solutions available.
For newly planted hedges or young ornamental cedars, run a rope along the hedge, alternating sides to each tree, about 1 foot below the last leaves. When you reach the end of the hedge, come back with the same rope, and pass the rope in the other direction, always alternating with each tree. Care must be taken not to overtighten the rope; the purpose is simply to support the upper branches so that they do not open.
For more massive hedges, the best solution is to cut your hedge in an ovoid shape (egg-shaped), to allow the snow to evacuate naturally by gravity. As a reminder, hedge trimming is generally done during the summer, from the end of June to the beginning of September.
Winter protection in the form of a teepee
It is also possible to install a more elaborate protection, in the form of a teepee around the hedge. It requires more work but is reusable from year to year and provides very good protection for your hedge.
