Most years, the first snow of the season arrives after Treasure Valley trees have dropped their leaves. Every so often it comes early, while maples, ash, and ornamental pears are still holding a full canopy. Leaves catch and hold far more wet snow than bare branches, and even healthy limbs can bend or split under the extra weight.
If an early storm does hit, a few simple steps help. Gently brush snow off lower branches you can reach safely with a broom, pushing upward rather than shaking the limb, which can snap cold, brittle wood. Stay clear of anything hanging over the driveway, sidewalk, or a power line, and leave broken or hanging limbs up high to a professional crew.
The best protection is good structure. Trees with tight, weak branch unions or long, heavy limbs reaching over the roof are the ones most likely to struggle under a wet snow load. Our ISA Certified Arborists can look over your trees this fall and recommend light, targeted pruning that lowers that risk, not heavy cutting that stresses the tree right before winter.
Do you remember an early snow that caught your trees still in full leaf? How did they hold up? #TreasureValley #TreeCare
Real photo of a Treasure Valley tree with snow on leaves still in canopy, or a job photo of a crew removing a snow-broken limb. A clean branded graphic with the "brush up, don't shake" tip also works. Authentic ArborSafe job photos are strongly preferred over stock.
Canva text suggestion: "Early Snow + Full Leaves = Heavy Branches" or "Brush Up Gently, Never Shake"