The chirping and chattering of nearby birds seemed almost surreal and somewhat eerie.  Their tone was one of elation mixed with urgency, and I searched the skies as the sound seemed to be enveloping me.  Nothing.  I saw nothing until I noticed a tall Oak a few doors down that seemed to have prematurely leafed out.  Leaves?  Why on earth did this Oak have leaves?  They weren’t leaves as I soon discovered but the dark silhouettes of the noisy birds who all at once took flight to another nearby tree where they stood masked again as leaves.  They were tiny birds, and when in flight, seemed almost triangular or bat-like.  I’m not sure what they were, but they had something to say, by gosh, and I listened until they were out of sight and ear shot.  Could this be a sign of Spring – the birdsong?

That very same day, I noticed some of our established Arborvitae’s limbs were bent and buried under the snow.  As the snow from the blizzard started to recede, the damage became quickly evident, and they were a sad sight to behold.

When the snow first began to fall, the shrubs bared the weight with grace and resilience, but when the wind picked up and the drifts grew exponentially, some of the limbs were simply buried and then partially frozen to the ground.

If and when possible, brush the snow off limbs after every snow fall with a broom, but never shake the limbs, particularly when dealing with evergreens.  If the snow is frozen on the branch, you’re best bet is to let the snow and ice melt naturally.  Intervening at this point will cause irreparable harm.  In most cases, there isn’t much you can do until warmer weather arrives.  In many cases, the shrubs will bounce back, and if they don’t, simply remove broken branches in the Spring.  Staking and reinforcement with nylon or twine may also be needed, but again, wait until Spring to assess the damage and make corrections.

  Don’t forget Valentine’s Day this Saturday.  Give that very special someone the promise of Spring with a gift certificate from Sweeney’s.  Call or email us today!

“In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.”

-Christina Rossetti

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney