I have a redbud tree - about 12 feet tall. We had a lot of ice last night and the branches of the tree are covered in ice and almost touching the ground, but the limbs have not broken from the trunk. Is it better to try to cut them now so that it’s a clean cut, or hope for the best and leave them alone? I don’t know when we will get above freezing again, but it is supposed to be sunny by the end of the week.
Hope for the best and leave them alone. Cutting them now isn’t going to accomplish much. I clean cut it nice but you can always make a clean cut after a branch breaks.
bare trees can handle a lot of ice. leave it.
Depends if there is anything that could be damaged if the branches snap or if the tree falls. We had a tree that literally snapped at the trunk due to the uneven branches on the tree (cut by the power company) and all the ice build up. Luckily nothing was damaged but you might want to make sure.
The branches will move back into position when the ice is gone. Remove some of the ice by tapping the ends of the branches with a pole if it’s safe to do so. You don’t have to get it all off to help. Don’t do it if it’s extremely cold as branches are more brittle if it extremely cold.
You should treat it just like you would a family of possums living in the tree: spray it with a hose.