Ice, snow, heavy rains, and high winds can potentially damage any tree. So, the question becomes, “How to protect your trees from Storm Damage” especially if they are newly planted. Although, even the largest and strongest trees can be damaged by extreme weather.
While mother nature is impossible to defeat 100% of the time, there are many steps homeowners and business owners can take to greatly reduce the odds of tree damage. Remember, it’s not always just the tree that is damaged, any property and structures in the vicinity of the tree are also at great risk. A small amount of prevention can go a long way toward preserving your precious trees, your home, your business, and even your lives.
If you have had the unfortunate event of a damaged tree brought down by a storm, then you can use our emergency tree services for any trees that need to be removed from your property.
Minimize the likelihood of storm damage with these 11 tips…
How to Protect Your Trees:
1. Water and Fertilize Trees adequately and properly. Strong healthy trees are much less likely to experience storm damage. A heavy wind has fewer weak spots to target in a strong and healthy tree. Even long-established trees can use some supplemental food and a drink from time to time.
2. Manage Pests. There are several pests that target trees and consume the leaves and/or actual structure of trees. Trees without adequate leaf coverage are unable to produce enough energy to sustain the tree and maintain structural integrity. Unstable trees are much more likely to be damaged by extreme weather conditions.
3. Prune. Pruning trees is important to increase their resistance to storm damage. Weak limbs can be removed before they become a serious hazard. The best time to prune trees is during dormant periods when the leaves aren’t present to hide the presence of troublesome limbs. Regularly pruned trees are less likely to suffer from wind damage. Knowledgeable homeowners and business owners can perform this task themselves on smaller trees. However, larger trees are best left to the professionals.
4. Remove Contaminated branches. Contaminated branches are those that form a V-shape split. These are often weak points in the tree that are very vulnerable to storm damage. The bark that grows between contaminated branches can eventually push the branches apart enough to create a split. An emergency tree services company is perfect for this important task.
5. Regularly assess trees for hazards. It is wise to perform regular assessments to identify trees that are in danger of experiencing storm damage. Ideally, a professional will do this assessment. It’s not always clear to the untrained eye which trees are most susceptible to damage.
6. Have dangerous trees removed. Trees that are identified as dangerous should be secured, pruned, or removed by a professional tree service in London. The only way to make a tree 100% safe is to have it removed properly and as soon as possible. Emergency tree services are ideal for this potentially dangerous task.
7. Cable trees. Cabling trees that are sensitive to extreme weather is a great way of protecting trees. Cabling can also be useful for protecting newly planted trees. Cabling provides extra support to any tree and is a great way to prevent your trees from being damage by high winds.
8. Plant trees when they are small. Smaller trees have been shown to grow much more robust root systems than trees that are planted when they are larger. Uprooted trees often had weaker root systems. Planting small trees requires more patience and a few more years to attain the same size, but the results are worth the wait.
9. Avoid planting isolated trees. A single tree is forced to deal with the full strength of the wind by itself. Trees planted in groves can shield each other from the full force of the wind. Planting trees in groups is an easy and effective way of protecting your trees. Planting shrubs a few meters away from isolated trees can be beneficial and help to protect a tree from storms.
10. Avoid planting trees too close together. On the other hand, trees that are too close together can also be an issue. It’s best to avoid planting trees so close together that the limbs can become entangled. Pruning can also be used as preventative maintenance for crowded trees.
11. Protect the roots. The roots are the foundation of the tree. The best way to protect the roots is to stay clear of them. Avoid excavation, construction work, or driving on the area above the roots.
Call the Emergency Tree Service Experts
Always remember, any damaged trees or broken limbs should be dealt with immediately to avoid serious harm or injury to you, your customers or loved ones. It is crucial you call in a professional tree service to deal with the situation safely, and who has a system for the removal of damaged trees.
Call Joe at Stumps “R” Us for a free quote or emergency tree service when you are in need of safety and professional tree care. We hope you have enjoyed these tips on how to protect your trees and they will serve you well in the future.