How To Keep Your Cedar Trees Healthy During Mid-Missouri’s Winter

Protect Your Missouri Cedar Trees With Expert Advice From Braik’s Tree Care

Cedar trees are beautiful and useful trees. They look great all year round, smell good, and can protect your property from strong winds and snow. If you have lovely cedar trees on your property, you should protect them from the elements, especially during the colder winter months. As Mid-Missouri’s tree experts, we are here to help educate you about winter cedar tree care.

Native Cedar Trees in Missouri

Missouri has a huge variety of trees all across the state, but only two types of cedars: the Eastern Red Cedar and Ashe Juniper. The Eastern Red Cedar is the most common cedar in Missouri and can often be found on, you guessed it, the eastern side of the state. This tree has a fresh, woody smell that has given it the nickname “aromatic cedar.” The Ashe Juniper is native to southern Missouri. It is shorter than an Eastern Red Cedar and its foliage is darker. No matter what type of cedar you have in your yard, you should take special care to protect it. 

How to Protect Missouri Cedar Trees From Winter Weather

Fall Fertilization

Before winter comes around, make sure your Missouri cedar tree has the nutrients it needs to make it through the cold weather. Sprinkle fertilizer around the base of your cedar tree in the fall so it has plenty of time to absorb those helpful nutrients before the ground freezes. 

Mulch Your Missouri Cedar

Mulch is like a blanket for plants and trees. It creates a barrier between shallow roots and harsh winter freezes that can harm the tree. Mulch will also protect the soil at the base of the tree from eroding in strong winter winds and snowmelt. 

How to Wrap Your Cedar Tree

When winter conditions take a turn for the worse, it might be time to consider wrapping your cedar tree in a protective layer of tree netting or burlap. Cedar tree branches are strong but heavy ice and snow can cause a lot of damage. A few broken branches might not seem like a big deal, but it can lead to diseases and death come springtime. Wrap your cedar tree up safely and be sure to remove the wrapping once the majority of winter weather has passed. Too much time spent wrapped up could also hurt the tree. 

Avoid Using Ice Melt Around Your Cedar Tree

Salt-based ice melts can cause serious harm to your cedar tree. If you have a cedar tree near your driveway or other walkways, avoid sprinkling ice melt near the tree. Just like too much salt is bad for you, too much salt is also bad for your landscaping. 

How To Tell If Your Cedar Tree is Sick or Dying

If your cedar tree has made it through the winter but is looking a little worse for wear, call the tree care experts at Braik’s Tree Care. A sick cedar tree will often have patches of yellow and brown leaves or white fungus at the base of the trunk. White fungus is a sign of root rot, and any tree with root rot should be treated right away. If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, give us a call. 

Know When It’s Time To Hire A Professional Tree Service to Care For Your Missouri Cedar Trees

Sometimes it can be too late to save a tree. Dead or dying trees can be dangerous and expensive if they fall on your property or neighboring properties. If you need to trim or remove a cedar tree on your property, Braik’s Tree Care is Columbia, Mo’s #1 full-service tree care company. We can provide affordable tree trimming, preventative care, tree removal, and stump removal.