Earthworks Tree Services Outlines Winter Tree Care Steps Following NOAA Outlook
WEAVERVILLE, NC - October 30, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - Earthworks Tree Services is outlining practical steps for caring
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WEAVERVILLE, NC – October 30, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Earthworks Tree Services is outlining practical steps for caring for trees in the winter as western North Carolina enters the 2026/2027 season. The guidance follows NOAA’s new winter outlook and a heavy ice storm that struck the mountains in January. It also builds on the company’s earlier educational material about dead or dormant trees.
NOAA’s 2026/2027 outlook favors above-normal temperatures and precipitation across western North Carolina from December through February, WLOS reported. The outlook does not indicate how much snow will fall or when cold air will arrive. WLOS also reported that El Niño is expected to drive the season, and El Niño years tend to favor above-average snowfall regionally.
Forecasters warned ahead of the January storm that ice accumulation combined with wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph could cause power outages, according to 828newsNOW. WLOS photographed crews working to restore power in western North Carolina on January 26. Ice adds weight to branches, making the condition of a tree’s limbs a key concern before storms arrive.
Mulching is a widely recommended winter step for trees. Texas A&M Forest Service notes that mulch insulates the root zone of newly planted trees against repeated freezing and thawing, and Purdue’s Landscape Report advises leaving a gap of about two inches between mulch and the trunk. Casey Trees adds that excess moisture against the trunk can lead to decay.
Texas A&M Forest Service and Casey Trees note that dormant trees need watering less often, roughly once or twice a month when rain and snow are scarce. Watering is an easy-to-overlook part of winter tree care as temperatures fall, but Casey Trees advises watering only when temperatures exceed 40°F and the ground around the tree is free of snow and ice. Purdue’s report says evergreens benefit from slow, deep watering until the soil freezes.
Pruning is a third element of preparation. Casey Trees notes that trees with good structure are more resistant to high winds, snow, and ice, and it recommends structural pruning while trees are young. The Purdue report advises enlisting a professional arborist for large limbs and high branches.
Based in Weaverville, Earthworks Tree Services works with residential and commercial property owners across Buncombe and Henderson counties. Its services include pruning, plant health care, tree risk assessment, tree removal, stump grinding, and land clearing. The company’s certified arborists also perform hazardous tree evaluations, which look for structural weaknesses and decay before they become emergencies.
The company’s tree risk assessments result in a report on any issues found, which informs tree management choices such as removal or stump grinding. The Purdue report also recommends visual inspections of trees from the ground up, looking for cracked or weak branches and damage to the main stem. Findings from such checks can be shared with a certified arborist.
Soil and trunk protection also factor into winter readiness. Purdue’s report notes that slow-release fertilizer applied in fall can provide a nutrient boost over the winter, and Earthworks Tree Services lists soil assessment and fertilization among its tree care services. Texas A&M Forest Service advises wrapping young, thin-barked trees in late fall to prevent sunscald.
Winter tree care focuses on preparing trees for cold temperatures and storm damage. Mulching, watering, structural pruning, and inspection each target a different cold-season risk to trees. Earthworks Tree Services is sharing these steps ahead of the outlook period, which begins in December.
Earthworks Tree Services is owned and operated by Joe Brady, a Barnardsville native who learned the biology of native trees from his father, an environmental scientist. The company’s arborists attend national industry expos to keep up with advances in safety and arboriculture. The company describes its mission as caring for the unique landscape of western North Carolina.
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For more information about Earthworks Tree Services, contact the company here:
Earthworks Tree Services
Joe Brady
+18287741984
info@earthworkswnc.com
4380 Eller Ford Rd Weaverville, NC 28787 USA
