Damage to individuals and property can result from storm debris, such as downed trees and branches. A storm’s aftermath makes it simple to “blame it on the trees.” As a result, the harm done to the trees that survive tends to be greater. Poor maintenance and pruning, such as tree topping, increase dramatically after storms.
Some believe that cutting off the top of a tree will make it smaller, safer, and better able to withstand the next storm. The inverse is true in the long run. The internal deterioration and weakened tree structure result from improper pruning techniques such as topping, rounding-over, and heading back. Because of this rot, the tree in your yard will begin to come apart, which may cause future damage during storms and more costs for you.
What steps can you take to fix the damage to your trees caused by the storm? Everyone is worried about staying safe. Stay clear from downed power lines (even if the power is out), broken or hanging tree limbs, and unstable trees. Never tinker with a power line. The local utility provider is responsible for repairing or clearing the lines if a tree or branch has fallen on them.
This blog aims to educate readers and give them actionable advice on caring for trees after a storm. If you’re an experienced arborist or garden lover, we want you to come along on this adventure to help your trees survive and thrive, no matter what challenges they confront.
Emergency Care for Storm-Damaged Trees
After a severe storm, property owners’ first thought is usually, “Let’s get this mess cleaned up.” Unfortunately, many trees that should have been protected are cut down because hurried decisions were made.
Taking the appropriate steps following tree damage might be the difference between a healthy recovery and the needless loss of trees.
After a storm, follow these few easy guidelines to provide first aid to trees:
Don’t Force Yourself To Take On Everything.
A professional arborist should be called in when massive branches are broken or dangling, or work must be done at great heights using a chainsaw. They have the right tools and training; you may find them in the phone book under “Tree Service.”
Put your safety first.
Check the sky and the ground. Keep an eye out for any hazards, such as downed power wires or low-hanging branches that look like they could fall at any moment. If there are any low-voltage telephones, downed utility lines, cable lines, or even fence wires nearby, you should avoid contacting them. Avoid walking under dangling or caught branches or broken limbs. And unless you have extensive experience with chainsaws, you should let the experts handle them.
Cut off any shattered tree limbs that are still attached.
Common storm damage repairs include clearing away the splintered remnants of smaller damaged limbs. If done correctly, it will reduce the likelihood that decaying matter may enter the wound.
The point where smaller branches join larger ones is where they should undergo pruning. When a large branch breaks off a tree, an arborist should trim it to the trunk or the main limb. Use the diagram as a reference to make clean cuts in the proper places while pruning smaller branches, which will speed up the tree’s recovery.
When a branch is pruned, its weight might lead it to break free, exposing the branch’s inner bark and generating rough, disease-prone edges. If you follow these instructions, that won’t happen:
- Start your cut several inches away from the base of the tree’s trunk and work your way up.
- Make a second, upper-level incision a few inches from the initial to ensure the limb falls safely.
- Last but not least, make your incision outside the branch’s collar, the elevated area around the branch’s point of attachment to the trunk.
Restore the ripped bark.
Use a sharp chisel or knife to smooth the jagged edges of tree bark wounds thoroughly. This will not only improve the tree’s beauty but will also reduce hiding spots for insects. The cambium (the inner, green bark) is a delicate layer that contains the tree’s lifelines to nutrients and water from the soil and the air.
The damaged bark should be smoothed down to speed healing and prevent pest infestation.
Don’t Give In To The Urge Of Over Pruning.
The imperfect appearance of the tree is acceptable. As a result of limb loss, your trees may look unbalanced or even naked. Their speedy recovery, fresh leaf growth, and restoration to their former glory will astound you.
Don’t Cut Down the Trees.
Some uninformed people may advise you to trim all the branches, believing that doing so will make the tree safer against breakage in future storms. Even if storm damage prevents you from making the best pruning cuts, experts say that “topping,” or cutting primary branches down to stubs, is a bad idea.
Stumps are far more likely to break during a storm because the new growth that emerges from them has a weaker connection. The tree will put forth its greatest effort to heal from the damage caused by the storm.
The tree’s foliage gives it the food and nutrients it needs to grow again after being topped. When a tree loses its top and has already been severely damaged by a storm, it usually doesn’t survive. Recovery will be sluggish at best, and it won’t be able to regain its former form or attractiveness.
Never reduce a tree’s major branches to mere stumps. Unattractive, poorly linked limbs grow taller than the original branches and are more prone to break off in a subsequent storm.
Additional Suggestions for Post-Disaster Yardwork
Verify the Trees.
In the aftermath of a storm, your tree may threaten your safety if there are huge branches on the ground, a split trunk, or a shattered tree top. Take note of warning signals like these to choose your next action.
Gather up twigs, leaves, and other bits of litter.
Apply however you choose. Firewood can be made from dried branches. You could also enquire if wood chips are a service provided by your municipality. The leaves can be used as compost or incorporated into the soil to boost quality.
Remove Minor Tree Branches.
Do-it-yourself tree care is possible if a visual inspection reveals no significant structural damage and only a few minor branches are broken. The catch? The branches should be less than 2 inches in diameter and reachable without a tree ladder. If so, remove the pruners and cut away any broken limbs.
Remove damaged leaves from plants.
Annuals, perennials, and vegetable plants can prune diseased leaves off if the stems are unharmed. If the stem still seems healthy after the plant has been uprooted, you can try to replant it and prune it. Don’t lop off more than a third of the leaves simultaneously. In that manner, your plants will still have enough leaves to make up for the ones you chopped off.
Throw Away Any Plants That Have Broken Stems.
On the other hand, your plant won’t survive if its leaves are wilted and its stem is broken. That being the case, ditch it and get something new.
Fill In Any Grassy Ponds, Big Or Small.
After heavy rains, if you notice a tiny pool forming in the yard, you may have a drainage issue. Plant some plants or bushes that can handle some moisture close by. If the puddle grows, you may want to fill in the depression or reroute the water flow.
Recovering trees needs your help.
The health of your trees may be maintained by regular mulching, watering, and fertilising throughout the year. Consequently, dead wood is less likely to fall off in storms from otherwise healthy trees.
Make A Choice
Any given tree’s fate tends to fall into one of these buckets.
Keep It
If the damage is minimal, you can clip the broken branches, fix the torn bark, smooth off the rough edges around the wound, and let the tree heal itself.
Most mature trees can provide shade even after losing a large limb. It’s best to cut the broken branch off at the trunk. Large wounds need close observation for deterioration in the months following their initial treatment.
Young trees have a high threshold for harm before they quickly recover. If the tree’s leader and the skeleton for new growth are unharmed, you can prune away the damaged branches and let the tree heal on its own.
Wait And See
Don’t give in to the urge to merely lop off the tree and go on. Take some time to deliberate. Keep in mind that time is on your side. Trim off any splintered branches. The tree will need time to recuperate, so please be patient. You can decide for sure when you have more time.
Be generous with your pruning, too. To make it through the next growing season, the tree will require as much leaf as it can produce. Leave healthy branches intact and see how the tree responds.
Replace It
It’s not possible or worthwhile to save every tree. There is no hope for a tree weakened by illness, has a split trunk, or has lost more than half of its crown.
It is essential to your trees’ recovery and long-term health that you tend to them after a storm. To keep your trees healthy, you should check for damage, prune them appropriately, deal with uprooted trees, water and feed them, apply mulch, and watch for signs of stress or disease.
Contact A Professional
A qualified arborist should be consulted when a tree’s health appears to be in jeopardy, and only then should any necessary pruning or limb removal be carried out.
Attempts to cut down or remove storm-damaged trees cause deaths and serious injuries yearly. The weight and strain exerted on these branches and trees could be better for an unskilled person to perceive. These broken trees or limbs are like mousetraps; all it takes is a little prodding to send them crashing to the ground, where they can injure or kill someone unprepared for the danger.
A professional arborist should be contacted to remove storm-damaged tree branches or entire trees safely. Certified arborists have studied tree care extensively and demonstrated their mastery with a rigorous examination. Remember that following a storm, many people assert they are “tree specialists.” These opportunists take advantage of the system while needing proper qualifications and insurance. They usually cause more problems than they solve and are overpriced.
A professional arborist is the best resource for repairing your trees and keeping your landscape at its best.
Conclusion
Storm debris, such as downed trees and branches, can cause significant damage to individuals and property. Poor maintenance and pruning techniques, such as tree topping, can lead to internal deterioration and weakened tree structures, causing the tree to come apart and potentially causing future damage during storms and increased costs.
To fix the damage caused by a storm, it is important to stay safe, avoid downed power lines, broken or hanging tree limbs, and unstable trees. The local utility provider is responsible for repairing or clearing the lines if a tree or branch has fallen on them.
After a storm, it is crucial to follow these guidelines to provide first aid to trees. Don’t force yourself to take on everything, and call in a professional arborist when massive branches are broken or dangling. Put your safety first, check the sky and ground for hazards, and avoid contacting low-voltage telephones, downed utility lines, cable lines, or fence wires nearby.
Cut off any shattered tree limbs that are still attached, as this will reduce the likelihood of decaying matter entering the wound. Trim the point where smaller branches join larger ones, using a diagram as a reference to make clean cuts in the proper places while pruning smaller branches. Restore the ripped bark, smoothing down the jagged edges to improve the tree’s beauty and reduce hiding spots for insects.
Don’t give in to the urge of over pruning, as the imperfect appearance of the tree is acceptable. Their speedy recovery, fresh leaf growth, and restoration to their former glory will astound you.
Remember, cutting down the trees is not a good idea, as they are more likely to break during a storm due to weaker connections between new growth and the tree’s foliage. Never reduce a tree’s major branches to mere stumps, as unattractive, poorly linked limbs grow taller than the original branches and are more prone to break off in a subsequent storm.
After a storm, it is crucial to ensure the safety of your trees by identifying warning signs such as large branches, split trunks, or shattered tops. To address these issues, gather up twigs, leaves, and other litter, apply firewood or wood chips, and use the leaves as compost or soil additives. If minor tree branches are broken, remove them and cut away any broken limbs.
Remove damaged leaves from plants, replanting healthy stems if possible. If the plant’s leaves are wilted and its stem is broken, discard it and replace it with a new one. Fill in any muddy ponds, if they form after heavy rains, and consider filling in depressions or rerouted water flow.
Recovering trees requires regular mulching, watering, and fertilization throughout the year. Dead wood is less likely to fall off during storms from healthy trees. If the damage is minimal, clip the broken branches, fix the torn bark, smooth off rough edges around the wound, and let the tree heal itself. Young trees have a high threshold for harm before they quickly recover, so prune away the damaged branches and let the tree heal on its own.
Be patient and be generous with pruning, as the tree will need time to recover. Leave healthy branches intact and watch for signs of stress or disease.
If a tree’s health appears to be in jeopardy, consult a qualified arborist for necessary pruning or limb removal. Unskilled individuals may not be able to handle storm-damaged trees, which can cause deaths and serious injuries annually. Certified arborists have extensive knowledge of tree care and can safely remove storm-damaged tree branches or entire trees.
Content Summary:
- Damage to individuals and property can result from storm debris, such as downed trees and branches.
- Poor maintenance and pruning, such as tree topping, increase dramatically after storms.
- What steps can you take to fix the damage to your trees caused by the storm?
- Stay clear from downed power lines (even if the power is out), broken or hanging tree limbs, and unstable trees.
- This blog aims to educate readers and give them actionable advice on caring for trees after a storm.
- After a severe storm, property owners’ first thought is usually, “Let’s get this mess cleaned up.”
- Taking the appropriate steps following tree damage might be the difference between a healthy recovery and the needless loss of trees.
- After a storm, follow these few easy guidelines to provide first aid to trees: Don’t Force Yourself To Take On Everything.
- Avoid walking under dangling or caught branches or broken limbs.
- Cut off any shattered tree limbs that are still attached.
- Common storm damage repairs include clearing away the splintered remnants of smaller damaged limbs.
- When a large branch breaks off a tree, an arborist should trim it to the trunk or the main limb.
- Use the diagram as a reference to make clean cuts in the proper places while pruning smaller branches, which will speed up the tree’s recovery.
- Use a sharp chisel or knife to smooth the jagged edges of tree bark wounds thoroughly.
- The imperfect appearance of the tree is acceptable.
- Even if storm damage prevents you from making the best pruning cuts, experts say that “topping,” or cutting primary branches down to stubs, is a bad idea.
- When a tree loses its top and has already been severely damaged by a storm, it usually doesn’t survive.
- Never reduce a tree’s major branches to mere stumps.
- In the aftermath of a storm, your tree may threaten your safety if there are huge branches on the ground, a split trunk, or a shattered tree top.
- Remove damaged leaves from plants.
- After heavy rains, if you notice a tiny pool forming in the yard, you may have a drainage issue.
- Plant some plants or bushes that can handle some moisture close by.
- If the puddle grows, you may want to fill in the depression or reroute the water flow.
- The health of your trees may be maintained by regular mulching, watering, and fertilising throughout the year.
- Keep It If the damage is minimal, you can clip the broken branches, fix the torn bark, smooth off the rough edges around the wound, and let the tree heal itself.
- It’s best to cut the broken branch off at the trunk.
- If the tree’s leader and the skeleton for new growth are unharmed, you can prune away the damaged branches and let the tree heal on its own.
- Don’t give in to the urge to merely lop off the tree and go on.
- Take some time to deliberate.
- Keep in mind that time is on your side.
- Trim off any splintered branches.
- The tree will need time to recuperate, so please be patient.
- Be generous with your pruning, too.
- Leave healthy branches intact and see how the tree responds.
- It is essential to your trees’ recovery and long-term health that you tend to them after a storm.
- To keep your trees healthy, you should check for damage, prune them appropriately, deal with uprooted trees, water and feed them, apply mulch, and watch for signs of stress or disease.
- A qualified arborist should be consulted when a tree’s health appears to be in jeopardy, and only then should any necessary pruning or limb removal be carried out.
- Attempts to cut down or remove storm-damaged trees cause deaths and serious injuries yearly.
- A professional arborist should be contacted to remove storm-damaged tree branches or entire trees safely.
- A professional arborist is the best resource for repairing your trees and keeping your landscape at its best.
FAQs About Trees
Is It Necessary To Apply Wound Dressing To Damaged Areas On The Tree Trunk Or Branches?
It’s generally not recommended to use wound dressing. Trees are better at healing on their own. Keep the area clean and allow the tree to compartmentalise the damage.
Should I Fertilise My Trees After A Storm To Aid In Recovery?
Fertilising damaged trees is generally not advised immediately after a storm. Wait until the following growing season to provide nutrients.
Can A Certified Arborist Assess And Care For My Trees After A Storm?
A certified arborist has the expertise to assess and care for storm-damaged trees, ensuring proper recovery and safety.
Can’t I Mow Around The Stump?
Mowing around a tree stump can be cumbersome and potentially dangerous, requiring extra care and attention to avoid accidents. The stump’s presence can also hinder the efficiency of lawn maintenance equipment. Removing the stump eliminates these challenges and frees up valuable space for other landscaping opportunities.
How Does Stump Removal Contribute To Soil Health?
As tree stumps decompose, they release substances into the soil that can alter its pH levels and nutrient composition. This can have adverse effects on the health of surrounding plants. Removing the stump ensures the soil remains optimal for the plants you want to thrive.
