Plants and Ice

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Your Favorite Plants and Ice by Jurgen Hess.

In much of the Gorge plants are still covered with one half to three quarters inch of ice. On the positive side, this cold weather will kill off many insects, their larva and eggs.

But, what’s a homeowner to do when they see their favorite tree or shrub bent over with thick ice? First don’t whack the plant with a stick or broom, as its small branches may snap and break. That idea was okay when there was only light fluffy snow on the plant, but now when branches are covered in ice, hitting the plant is a bad idea.

It’s best to wait for nature: temperatures will eventually rise and the ice will melt and break up. Branches are tough and resilient and most will bend back upright after ice melts. In the significant ice storms in 1996 and 2012 that’s what occurred. But some branches might break; see advice for what to do below.

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Certified arborist Tyler Roth says, “Plants with brittle branches, like Big leaf maple, could break. But others like cedars and Doug firs are more flexible and pliable.”

“When weather permits, do proper pruning,” Roth advises. “This will create a healthier, stronger plant with defective branches removed.” When spring comes (it will come; this I guarantee), cut the broken branch off cleanly at the trunk or main stem. Do a vertical cut; don’t bother with painting the cut as nature has been healing its broken limb wounds nicely for millennia.

Warning: If iced branches are near power lines or other utility lines contact the utility company. Do not, I repeat, do not mess with branches near power lines.

Oh, and Roth, straight-faced says: “Don’t try to melt the ice with a hair dryer.”

Get Advice: Jurgen Hess, with 50 years of landscape architecture experience, still asks the plant experts for advice. If you have any questions, contact a certified arborist or plant expert knowledgeable about ice-damaged plants.

Here”s a few:

Gorge Tree Surgeon, Tyler Roth 541.399.7775
Tree Climbing Cascadia, LLC, Anthony Villagomez 541.806.0508
Braun Arboricultural Consulting, LLC, David Braun 541.806.0347
Humble Roots Nursery 503.449.3694

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