Time To Check Your Trees and Shrubs
After a long and punishing winter, spring has finally settled into Maryland for good — and now is the perfect time to walk your property and take a close look at your trees and shrubs. The winter of 2026 brought weeks of frozen ground, repeated cold snaps, and heavy stress on landscapes throughout the region. Then came the early spring warm-up that pushed many flowering trees and ornamentals into bloom far too soon. When temperatures plunged again during the hard freeze of April 21–22, the damage was widespread, even devastating vineyard crops across parts of Maryland.
Homeowners may now be seeing the effects in their own yards. Trees and shrubs that appeared healthy last year could be struggling with split bark, dead branch tips, delayed leaf growth, or sparse canopies. Flowering trees such as dogwoods, cherries, magnolias, and redbuds may have lost buds or suffered tissue damage from the sudden temperature swing. Evergreens and foundation shrubs may also show winter burn, browning, or dieback caused by prolonged frozen soil and drying winds.
Storm stress and freeze damage can also weaken limbs, making them more vulnerable to breakage during summer storms. Cracks in trunks, hanging branches, and fungal growth are all signs that a professional inspection may be needed. Now is the ideal time to schedule tree care before summer heat adds additional stress. A tree care professional can identify winter damage to your trees and shrubs early, safely remove hazardous limbs, prune dead growth, and provide plant health care treatments such as fertilizer or fungicide, helping protect the long-term health and appearance of your landscape. Early attention today can prevent costly problems later in the season. Our certified arborists at Mead Tree & Turf Care can assess your trees and make recommendations for the best course of action.
Call 301-854-5990 or email info@meadtree.com to schedule.










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