Winter might seem like a quiet season for tree care, but it’s actually one of the best times for tree removal. From removing dead or hazardous trees before spring storms to preparing your yard for new landscaping projects, winter tree removal offers significant advantages, including saving you money while improving your property. It’s a true win-win!
Key Takeaways:
- Winter’s leafless trees and frozen ground provide ideal conditions for tree removal by improving visibility, equipment access, and reducing property damage.
- The dormant season means less sap flow in most trees, making removal cleaner and more efficient – although some species like maple, birch, and elm will still produce sap.
- Winter tree removal can be more cost-effective and completed faster due to lower demand, more flexible scheduling, and simpler cleanup.
- Removing hazardous trees in winter helps prevent damage from snow and ice loads that could cause weak branches or unstable trees to fall during storms.
- Property owners have less preparation work to do before winter tree removal since outdoor furniture and decorations are typically already stored away for the season.
7 Benefits of Winter Tree Removal in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Don’t let winter fool you – it’s actually one of the most important times to care for your trees. Whether it’s pruning or removing a problem tree, winter offers unique opportunities to tackle these tasks.
1. Improve Access and Visibility
When a tree is fully covered in leaves, it’s tough to assess its structure clearly from the ground. In winter, with the leaves gone, the entire framework of the tree is exposed, making it much easier to evaluate. This allows us to plan precise cuts for quicker removal and identify any potential hazards we’ll need to navigate.
Leaves can also obstruct access to the tree and make it harder to maneuver equipment, such as a bucket truck. Without that extra foliage in the way, the job becomes smoother, safer, and faster, ensuring your tree is removed efficiently.
2. Reduce Sap Flow from Most Trees
During the winter months, most dormant trees experience a significant reduction in sap flow, making tree removal quicker, more efficient, and far less messy. However, not all deciduous trees follow this pattern. Some species, commonly referred to as “bleeders,” continue to produce substantial amounts of sap even in winter. In Bucks and Montgomery counties, this group includes the following trees:
- Maples
- Birches
- Elms
3. Make Heavy Equipment Easier to Use
The cold temperatures and frozen ground of winter are an asset when removing a tree. With a frozen yard, we can more easily bring in our equipment and get it close to your tree without worrying about lawn damage. While we do everything we can in the warmer months to avoid disturbing your yard, tree removal will cause some land disturbances when the ground isn’t solid.
The frozen ground also helps us in other ways, such as:
- Minimize the risk of soil compaction
- Stabilize the working space
- Lower the risk of fallen branches tearing up your yard
4. Take Advantage of Lower Demand and More Flexible Schedules
Tree care companies work year-round but typically have more open schedules in the winter for two primary reasons:
- Fewer People Thinking About Their Trees: After a tree’s leaves fall off, most homeowners tend to ignore them until spring comes along. For this reason, tree care companies often have less work until the spring.
- Fewer Services Offered in Winter: During the warmer months, many arborists and tree care companies have other services they may offer, like fertilization, insect treatments, and disease management. With fewer of these services in winter, tree care companies have more availability to schedule removals.
5. Prevent Snow and Ice Damage
The snow and ice we see in Montgomery and Bucks counties can place significant strain on trees, causing weak branches to snap under the weight. Dead or dangerous trees are more likely to cause damage from snow weight, as their limbs do not have the same structural integrity as healthy trees.
Removing these trees in the winter will protect your property and remove the danger of broken branches.
6. Increase Efficiency for Removal and Cleanup
Leaves can create a lot of extra work during removal, especially with larger, mature trees. They add weight to branches, making them harder to transport to the chipper and require additional cleanup before the job is done.
In winter, without the mess of fallen leaves, the entire process moves along more smoothly, allowing us to clean up faster and leave your yard looking great. This increased efficiency not only saves time but also reduces costs, making winter tree removal a smarter choice.
7. Simplify Preparation for Homeowners
Before we arrive to remove a tree, we ask homeowners to make a few preparations, such as clearing a path for our equipment and cleaning the area around the tree. This includes removing any lawn decorations or furniture that might get in the way or end up damaged during the job. In the winter, you’ll likely have fewer things sitting outside, making your preparation less time-consuming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Tree Removal
Tree removal is a complicated subject and not something many homeowners know a lot about. To help, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to give you clarity on the process and what to expect when removing a tree from your property. Don’t see your question here? We’d be happy to answer any questions you have when we examine your trees.
Do you offer emergency tree removal in the winter?
Yes, we offer emergency tree removal in the winter. While many people think of tree emergencies as something that happens in summer storms, trees can still come down and damage property in the winter.
Do you still work when there is a snow or ice storm?
For the safety of our crew, we may have to reschedule your appointment if there is significant snow or ice. These conditions create hazardous working environments, making it difficult to safely operate equipment and complete the job. Our priority is always to ensure the safety of everyone involved while delivering the highest quality service.
Can you still perform stump grinding in the winter?
Yes, we can perform stump grinding in the winter as long as the ground is not too hard. Stump grinding is available as an optional add-on to our tree removal service, leaving your yard clean and prepared for future projects.
Should I wait until winter to remove a dead tree?
If you have a dead or hazardous tree, don’t wait to remove it. Have an arborist complete dead tree removal as soon as possible to avoid the risk of it falling on your property and harming life or property.
Clauser Tree Care Can Handle Your Winter Tree Removal
Winter is a great season to remove an unwanted or unsafe tree on your property, but only if you know what you’re doing. Removing anything more than a sapling is nearly impossible to do safely if you don’t have the right training and equipment.
Our team at Clauser Tree Care can handle trees of any size or condition. With our woodchipper, crane, bucket truck, and climbers, we’ll make short work of your tree, leaving your yard looking spotless. Call us today at 215-542-8291 or request a quote online.
About Clauser Tree Care
From who you talk to on the phone in our office, to our courteous and experienced work crews who provide your service, all of the hard-working team members at Clauser Tree Care strive for complete client satisfaction. Our job is simply not done until you are pleased with the experience that you have had working with our company. Founded more than 25 years ago on the principles of honest work and arboricultural best practices, we strive for a higher standard of care for a greener future.
