Pine Tree Facts

• Unlike many deciduous trees, such as oaks and maples, whose fibrous trunks and branches provide a lot of stability, evergreens, including pine trees, are softwoods and are less rigid, exhibiting lower load-bearing capabilities. The younger the tree, the more flexible its branches are, and the slightest amount of weight will cause them to droop.
  
  

Heavy Snow

• In northern climates that receive significant amounts of snow each year, pine trees take a real beating. The wetter and heavier the snow, the more damage it can cause to a pine tree. The older taller specimens are able to withstand the heavy loads, while the younger trees often bend under the weight. Unlike deciduous trees, pine trees keep their "leaves" or needles year-round providing more space for the heavy snow or ice to stick to. However, a pine tree's flexible branches often pop back into place once the snow melts off.
  
  

Ice

• An ice event can dramatically increase the stress placed on pine trees, especially if it follows a period of heavy snow that is still weighing the branches down. These branches sometimes touch the ground and freeze there to be released once thawing sets in. Pine tree branches sometimes break from the weight of the ice, or the top of the tree bends far enough to split the bark. Damaged tree bark invites insects in, and can set the stage for the tree's decay and eventual death.
  
  

Damage Assessment

• In some instances, damaged branches can be removed with no ill effects to the rest of the tree. In less severe cases, some trees simply bounce back once the snow and ice have fallen off. In worst-case scenarios, or during prolonged high winds, older more brittle pine trees can be knocked over, snapping either close to the base or at some other point along the trunk. Pine trees can deteriorate quickly once they are damaged by snow or ice.
  
  

Preventive Measures

• In cases where there are just a few trees on a property and the likelihood of ice events is high, tree wrap can be used to both protect the trees from snow and ice and to secure their branches compactly through the winter. Prune any weak branches in the fall, and inspect the tree for signs of weakness at crotches or anywhere any two large branches connect. After a period of heavy snow, use a broom to gently knock the snow off the branches. Tree limbs get very brittle in subzero temperatures, and the risk of damaging them further by knocking the snow off increases.