Winter Tree Care in Iowa: What Helps — and What Can Hurt

Winter officially arrived Sunday, though Iowans have already had a taste of snow in the weeks since Thanksgiving. With branches sagging under the weight, some homeowners may be wondering how much help their trees really need.

Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension, says most trees are built to handle snowfall on their own.

“Most of the time, plants do a pretty good job of shedding snow all by themselves,” Steil says. “But if you have a younger tree or an evergreen that looks especially weighed down, you can gently brush the snow off with your hand or a broom.”

If you do step in, Steil says technique matters.

“Always brush upward, not downward,” he says. “That way you’re not putting even more stress on branches that are already bending.”

Ice, however, is a bigger concern than snow — and it’s also where homeowners are most likely to do unintended damage.

“Ice can be much harder on young plants,” Steil says. “But trying to remove it usually causes more harm than good.”

Steil says homeowners should avoid breaking ice off branches or pouring hot water on frozen trees. Both can damage limbs and bark. If there’s serious concern, he says gently propping a branch with a board may help.

Otherwise, the best approach is patience.

“The safest thing to do is leave it alone and let the sun and warmer temperatures take care of it,” Steil says.