Kansas City may soon be pounded by a severe ice storm.  If this is the case one of things you should be prepared for is the possible damage that could happen to all the valuable trees and shrubs you having your landscape.  Ice can be very damaging to both people and plants in your landscape. Fortunately, there is a few things you can do to prepare or protect your plants from the upcoming damage.

Arborvitaes and Junipers

These multi stem evergreen trees can be protected by tying all of the leaders together in the middle. This will protect them from becoming damaged by splitting in the middle from the weight of the ice.

Small High-Value Specimen Trees (Japanese maples, etc)

These trees can be protected by placing burlap or plastic over the top of the canopy — This will distribute the weight of the ice amongst all the branches and help prevent major Breakage.

Young Trees with Low Limbs

If you have young trees with low overhanging limbs these can be supported with 2×4′s, shovels, or anything else that will help bear the weight.  Place the brace about 1/4 of the total length of the branch away from the trunk.

Shrubs

Shrubs, especially evergreens, can be split by the weight of ice on individual branches, I highly recommend that you go out and a piece of cord around the middle of theses shrubs and then possibly place a piece of burlap or plastic over the top of the shrub.With these few preparations your landscape will be better off if Kansas City is hit with major ice this week.  However, it won’t protect your larger trees, which are also very susceptible to losing limbs that get too heavy.   Unfortunately, there is nothing we will be able to do that will prevent these limbs from breaking off now.   If this occurs, check back with the blog and I will give some advice on the best way to repair damaged trees and shrubs.As Gary says, Prepare for the worst and HOPE for the best