It is unclear whether this winter will bring us storms and winds as fierce as it was last winter. If there is anything close coming, we want to make sure that your trees are ready to withstand the storms.
We were able to assess lots of trees that failed during the last storm and based on things we observed we came up with 4 tips that will give your trees the best chance of survival!
We hope this article helps you prepare for the upcoming winter.
4 Tips to Maximize Your Trees’ Survival Odds
Check your trees for defects!
Many trees failed because they had major structural defects or weaknesses. Here are some to look out for:
- Look for large dead branches in upper canopy
- Look for loose bark on the trunk or cavities
- Look for mushrooms at the base of the tree
- Look for acute angles in main branches or stems.
Make sure your tree has been pruned properly within the past 3-7 years.
Many trees failed last winter for the simple fact that they had not been pruned. Lack of pruning develops a dense canopy and allows some branches to develop more weight than they can handle. Pruning will reduce weight, allow better airflow through the canopy, and we can eliminate structural defects when we find them.
Make sure there is good drainage around your large trees
In heavy rains, if the water sits and puddles around your large trees for long periods of time it can weaken the stability of the tree. There is no issue with heavy rains and heavy saturation for short periods but for long periods caused by major puddling and poor drainage it puts a large tree at risk of failing.
Understand the impacts of recent construction near your trees
If there was any type of landscape or construction that occurred around your tree involving root pruning within the drip line of the canopy, it may have caused the tree to be unstable. Many trees failed during the last storm as a result of root loss.
If you are worried your tree may have suffered severe root loss we can assist by having an arborist take a look to determine the severity of the damage and what steps can be taken to ensure the tree’s safety.
We will look for things such as:
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- What percentage of the tree’s roots was removed?
- Were anchoring roots damaged?
- Are rot or decay present?
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