Homeowners. Put down your shovels and pick up your brooms.

Heavy snow of the kind dumped on the region overnight is tough on trees and shrubs and much of the damage may already have been done.

But experts agree that you can reduce the breakage by using a broom to gently remove the snow from shrubs and brushing it off trees -- especially evergreens -- as high as you can reach.

Evergreens, because of their dense foliage, accumulate more snow and their fine branching is more easily damaged by the weight of the snow. But they will also repair themselves by "filling in" with new growth over the summer.

Fallen branches and uprooted trees are a more serious problem. The professionals will be busy with emergency tree removal after the storm. But if you have concerns about your tree, call and get on their list.

Branches that are obviously cracked should be removed, but a professional will be able to detect more serious structural damage  

And if your tree or its branches is endangering power lines, call BG&E or PepCo, depending on where you live.  You owe it to your neighbors.