'The Gardener Guy' Offers Tips For Saving Trees Following Ice Storm

The weight of all the ice has brought down lots of tree limbs since the weekend storm. What about limbs that are just bent, but not broken? I have expert advice from an old friend.

I happened onto an old friend at Southwood Landscape and Nursery. For years, Paul James, The Gardener Guy, had a regular segment on the News on 6, then a program on HGTV. He was the expert I needed to help me with trees and scrubs bent over by the ice.

"The worst thing you can do is to try to knock the ice off. Don't get out there with a broomstick or pvc pipe, as my neighbors were doing," James said.

The problem he says is the wood is very brittle. He said, as hard as it might be, just wait, the promised above-freezing temperatures and sunshine over the next few days will take care of most of it.

"Another great thing about the ice, by the way, is that it's a very affective insulator," he said.

Green plants are protected against more severe cold by the ice. For the most part, he said everything will be fine. What might not be fine is us.

"It's really cold. I don't spend much time outdoors when it's this cold," James said.

No need for the rest of us to either. Let the landscape plants respond to the warm up naturally. How about some hot chocolate?

"Yeah, I think I could spring for that," James said.

It was nice to see old friends around the holidays.

The Gardener Guy also said to be sure to water shrubs, trees and grass during the winter too. They may be dormant, but still need water to survive.