• BROOKINGS, S.D. -  This week's storm left a trail of destruction over parts of South Dakota as ice-coated trees succumbed to the weight and shed their branches.
• Although it's difficult to watch, there is not much homeowners can do to protect their trees in the midst of the storm says John Ball, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist.
• "I know the first thing you want to do is knock the ice off those hanging branches - don't do it," Ball said. "Knocking the ice from the branches is the absolute worst thing you can do. Also do not spray de-icing material on the branches to melt the ice. These chemicals are toxic to trees."
• He says interfering with nature will make it more likely for branches to break than just leaving the trees alone.
• "We all need to be patient and let the ice melt," he said.
• If a small tree's branches are bending low, the one thing Ball says homeowners can relieve some of the pressure by propping the branch up using 2-by-4s.
• After the storm
• Once the storm is over and the ice has melted, Ball recommends tree owners properly prune away any broken branches. He adds that it does not good to paint the pruning wound. However if a branch is just bent, wait awhile rather than prune it off the tree.
• "If you're patient, most bent branches will bounce back - if they have not snapped. However, it can take as long as two months, so you want to wait a while before pruning off bent branches so you can have a clear picture of your tree's health," Ball said.
• Ball says that because trees had not begun to bud before the storm, the branches that survive the storm should be fine this spring.
• Because of the storm-stress these trees have faced, Ball encourages homeowners to keep an eye out for infestations of the clearwing ash borer and bronze birch borer in young ash and birch trees.
• To learn more about repairing storm damaged trees, visit the iGrow Gardens website.