Lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan can pile weight onto branches fast, and some Northern Michigan trees handle that load far worse than others.
Trees with twin trunks, tight V-shaped branch unions, or long horizontal limbs are the most likely to split under wet, heavy snow. Birch, silver maple, and older poplar and aspen are frequent casualties, along with evergreens whose dense boughs catch snow like a shelf.
Limbs with existing cracks, decay, or damage from fall storms carry the highest risk of all, especially when they hang over a roof, driveway, or power line.
Late fall, before the snow settles in for the season, is a practical time to take a hard look at those trees. Removing a weak limb on bare ground is safer and simpler than cleaning up after it lands on something in February, when snowbanks make every cleanup harder.
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A photo of a snow-loaded tree or a split limb from a past Northern Michigan winter job. If none is available, an authentic shot of a birch or silver maple with a weak, V-shaped union works well.
Canva text suggestion: "Weak Limbs and Heavy Snow Don't Mix" or "Check These Trees Before the Snow Flies"