Winter in Middle Tennessee is fickle. One week can feel mild and comfortable, and then the next, storm warnings are being issued (for those reading this in late January 2026, you know what this is like). For mature trees across the region, Nashville winds, rain, snow, and cold snaps can break branches or uproot sturdy-looking trees compromised by root systems in wet ground.
The arborists at The Parke Company are experts in protecting and preserving our valued Nashville trees. We have a range of methods that can stabilize and reinforce aging trees, helping increase their resistance to high winds, secure weak points, and strengthen their overall resilience.
Why Winter Wind Gusts in Middle TN Put Mature Trees at Risk
Winter winds in Middle Tennessee can be especially hazardous to mature trees. Simultaneously, saturated soil and the increased weight on branches that snow and ice bring can reduce the holding power of a tree’s root system.
Wondering how to protect trees from wind damage?
Trees with a lean are at very high risk of falling during winter wind gusts. Evergreens offer more surface area for winds to push against. During an ice storm, trees with substantial foliage can collect extra weight, causing branches to break unexpectedly. For those that are top-heavy, an entire tree can be uprooted during a windstorm. Those with fungi forming at their base, also known as “butt rot,” are at high risk of failure during high-wind conditions because their anchoring system will be weak.
Deciduous trees in Nashville, TN full of foliage during the summer and early fall can show signs of structural problems once their leaves have fallen. With the addition of colder, more blustery weather, brittle branches and those harboring insects are more likely to snap. Species like the Bradford pear, for example, have weak branch connections as it is, and will need an arborist’s attention to ensure they won’t fail when the weather gets rough.
Under these sorts of conditions (and if you’re concerned about a tree on your property being at risk of failure), it’s imperative you contact a professional arborist for an assessment.
Our certified arborists at The Parke Company have the tools and knowledge to protect aging trees and determine whether a tree needs to be removed. If a sudden storm has left your Nashville or Brentwood property disheveled and an older tree looking frail, we’re here to preserve what can be saved and re-beautify your yard.
How Arborists Assess Structural Weaknesses
We evaluate the structural integrity of trees using a combination of visual assessments, site analysis, and advanced diagnostic tools. We look for cracks, decay, poor branch structure, root issues, leaf discolorations, and any possible fungal growth. We also check the base of the tree for potential damage (such as lawnmower cuts) and lifting soil that would indicate root instability.
Tools like the Resistograph drill can assess the internal integrity of a tree trunk by mapping its density on a graph. Sonic tomography performs a similar test using sound waves to map internal defects. And TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) is a system that arborists use to score risk and assess the likelihood of a tree failing. Based on the findings from these tests, your arborist will determine whether installing cables/braces is sufficient to support an older tree or recommend removal if the risk is too high.
Cabling, Bolting, Pruning, and Weight Reduction
Structural interventions are designed to preserve our trees while mitigating risk. Cabling, bracing (also known as bolting), and weight reduction can help mature trees showing signs of weakness or an unusual lean. Co-dominant stems can begin to crack, limbs can become heavy and overextended when drenched in snow or covered in ice, and during a storm, these conditions can give way to breakage.
Cabling, bracing, and weight-reduction strategies can mitigate this risk, protecting your property, family, pedestrians, and neighbors. It can also protect trees from connecting with power lines. These interventions should be inspected every five years to ensure they’re doing their job and not harming the tree.
General pruning might be all that’s needed to reduce the weight of a tree and preserve its overall structure. The best time to have this done, if you live in Nashville, Brentwood, or the surrounding areas, is between late November and early March. If you notice dead or diseased branches at other times of the year, prompt pruning can keep your trees healthy and resilient.
When it comes to oaks and elm trees, it’s best not to prune between mid-April and mid-October to avoid the risk of oak wilt disease. Flowering trees like dogwoods, on the other hand, can be pruned immediately after their blossoms have dropped.
Birches, maples, and trees that exude large amounts of sap (bleeders) should be pruned mid-summer or when fully dormant.
Your arborist can also help you with “tip-weight reduction,” which removes portions of fatter tree limbs (one to four inches in diameter) to lessen the load.
It’s always best to put the care of mature trees in the hands of certified arborists. Teams like ours at The Parke Company can perform the risk assessments needed to evaluate the structural integrity of an older tree and take steps to preserve it. We can also identify severe decay, which most often requires removal.
How to Protect Heritage Trees in Belle Meade, Oak Hill, and Forest Hills
When construction is underway in any neighborhood, it’s important to protect our trees from collateral damage. Fencing the dripline (installing a protective barrier around the circumference of the tree while avoiding root systems) signals a “Tree Protection Zone.” The barrier keeps commercial vehicles, tools, and any other hazardous materials away from the tree’s trunk and branches. It also ensures no compaction or excavation occurs within the TPZ to protect vital feeder roots.
If you’re planning to build or conduct a major exterior renovation of your home, it’s recommended that you hire an ISA-certified arborist to devise a protection plan and monitor the trees that are fenced off. Our team is well-versed in the local tree ordinances in Belle Meade, Oak Hill, Forest Hills, and surrounding Middle Tennessee regions, many of which have specific rules for tree removal and protection during development. Often, permits are required. Give our team a call to ensure you’re complying with local policies.
When it comes to general tree care, it’s important to keep mowers and string trimmers from impacting or slashing tree trunks. Another tip you can bear in mind is to spread mulch around the base of the tree (not touching the trunk, though) to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Request a Winter Structural Tree Assessment
Mature trees add beauty, majesty, and curb appeal to your property, as well as substantial value. For these reasons and for all that our trees do for us, producing oxygen, filtering pollutants from the air, and absorbing carbon dioxide, they deserve the best from us in return.
Winter winds and fluctuating temperatures can place extraordinary pressure and stress on our older trees, requiring proactive care.
For the best tree services Nashville homeowners have trusted for years, partner with the certified arborists at The Parke Company. Get in touch for a winter structural assessment of the trees on your property today, and to request a free estimate.
