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In Wisconsin we all dread that first win- ter storm of the season. It is usually a very wet, heavy snow and a lot of it. That heavy snow can be rough on our plants. Arborvi- taes are usually severely bent over, and bushes can have broken branches and split trunks. Sometimes this damage doesn't even become apparent until spring when we can get a closer look. By having an action plan maybe we can avoid some of this damage, but we need to be careful here. Doing the wrong thing at the wrong time can damage our plants fur- ther. After the storm, if the weather is still warm, excess snow can be carefully removed. Knock it off with your hand if possible, being very gentle. If you need to use a tool, use something soft, like a broom and wrap it with a cloth or towel. Try to knock the snow off without making contact with the actual branches. We want to avoid causing more damage. One thing you should never do is to shake or pull on the branches. If you weren't able to knock the snow off while the temperatures were warm, we need to approach things differently. It is best to leave the snow where it is and revis- it the option of removing it when the tem- peratures rise. Also, if you don't see any major damage, it's best to let them alone and not risk doing any further damage. If damage has been done, what should we do? The first thing we need to do is take a closer look at our plants right after the storm and in spring. You may not be able to do any pruning if needed right away but you can at least assess the situation. Inspect them for any injuries and prune away any- thing that appears dead or severely dam- aged. In some cases, some plants may have to be heavily pruned or even replaced. The next thing is to keep a close eye on them as they begin to leaf out in spring. You may notice branches that don't leaf out or leaf out and then suddenly die. This is a good sign that those branches received some form of internal damage. In the case of evergreens, watch for the browning of needles without the appearance of new growth. These branches will not heal and should simply be removed. This is something you'll need to keep an eye on throughout the whole growing sea- son. Don't be surprised if some of your plants look fine in spring but then take a turn for the worse when the stresses of summer approach. Proper care during the following growing season for the injured plants will also help. Our goal is to reduce other stresses so they can heal. Water your plants when it gets dry, but try not to over-water. I wouldn't recommend a lot of fertilizer, unless it's compost or an organic type, at this point because this may simply force growth the plant isn't able to support as it heals. In Wisconsin, we have to be prepared to deal with the weather. We experience some of our biggest challenges because of it, but we must endure them. Happy gardening! (Michael Timm is the head horticulturalist for Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ixonia.) DECEMBER 2019 HOME 3 MICHAEL TIMM How to help your trees after the storm Look for signs of stress in spring, summer Evergreen trees might not leap to your mind as having suffered stress from a wet, early snow, but they can show it through brown nee- dles, which might not be apparent until summer. Photo courtesy of Michael Timm Photo courtesy of Michael Timm Leaf-bearing trees affected by an early snow storm might show their stress in the spring by not properly leafing out.You might have to heavily prune them or replace them.