This week’s ice storm took a toll on trees.

Just how much of a toll often depends on the tree, said Jennifer Smith, horticulture agent with the Douglas County Extension Service.

Silver maple and Siberian elm trees usually are the hardest-hit by ice storms, Smith said.

“They have weak branch angles where the branch is attached to the trunk,” she said. “They break very easily.”

Also prone to ice damage are cottonwoods and poplars, Smith said. Cedars are strong trees – but ice collects on needles and can cause breaks. Sugar maples and oaks are stronger and more resilient.

If a tree sustains damage to 50 percent or more of its crown (branch structure) it probably will not recover, Smith said.

“If it is less than that, then typically it is a wait-and-see approach,” she said. “It depends a little bit on the species and where the damage is.”

A tree that is split open has a large wound that will make it susceptible to insects and diseases. It a good candidate for removal, Smith said.

Branches can be pruned on a tree this time of year without damaging it further, Smith said. For safety reasons, the job should wait until after the ice has melted.

Drop off tree limbs

¢ Tree limbs and brush from residents’ private property can be taken to the city’s drop-off site, 1420 E. 11th St., between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday through Monday. There is no fee. Limbs will be chipped and used as mulch throughout the city.

¢ Limbs not taken to the drop-off site must be properly bundled and placed with trash for removal. Each bundle should not exceed five feet in length, 18 inches in diameter or 65 pounds.