By: Patrick Troyer, Education Specialist
So you have a gorgeous array of trees that make up your yard or woods. All of the sudden, a windstorm comes along that knocks a majority of those trees down. What are you to do to clean up? Are there any precautions you should be aware of during the cleanup process? How do you know which trees are worth keeping? There are quite a few things to consider when it comes to cleaning up your woods and effectively managing them.
A windstorm is something that any forest owner dreads coming along. It does not take long for 60mph winds to topple multiple trees or even uproot them in the most severe cases. The result is a lengthy cleanup process that that follows and can vary in difficulty, but don’t panic! Let this article help you out!
So, a thunderstorm with heavy winds has just passed and your woods took a heavy hit. What are your first steps? First and foremost, do not panic! You will then want to take on the task of evaluating your trees to determine the trees which may have a second chance or those which may have to be cut down. The Alabama Cooperative Extension service writes that it is important to understand the type and severity of your tree damage by looking at the roots, trunk, limbs, and the crown. Each of these areas have varying degrees on impact on the tree and can determine whether the tree will survive or not.
In some cases, damage can be repaired. The National Arbor Day Foundation writes that if the damage is minimal on your tree such as a broken branch, you can simply prune the broken branches and repair any torn bark around the wounds. Smoothing out the wounds that appear on branches will speed up the healing process for the tree and allow new bark to grow over the wound in a shorter time frame. Once you take these steps, trees will naturally begin the process of repairing its wounds.
Montana State University Extension writes that if the break occurs near one of the main branches, the broken branch needs to be removed in an effort to reduce the strain on remaining healthy tree parts. This branch will need to be trimmed as close as you get to the main support branch and as close to healthy tissue as possible to allow the wound repairing process to take place much in a quicker fashion.
One thing you never want to do with a damaged tree is to top off your tree. The Arbor Day Foundation writes that topping or severely pruning a tree could make it prone to more damage in a future storm. Of course, your tree may not look perfect when you are done pruning but we must let the tree recover and you will have a good-looking tree back in no time. It may even surprise you how fast your tree can bounce back in most cases!
In most cases, trees just simply cannot be save after suffering from extensive storm damage. If you tree has already suffered from extensive insect or disease pressure it will be more prone to storm damage. The Arbor Day Foundation also says that if you experience a split trunk or if over half of the crown (upper part of tree where leaves and branches are found) is gone, it is recommended that the tree be removed. It is no doubt that the heavy rain and wind that comes along with severe storms places increased stress on the tree, especially the trunk and roots.
The Arbor Day Foundation writes that if you have a tree which tipped over in a storm, there is a very good chance that the tree’s roots were not well established or suffered previous damage in another event. Should you see severe leaning of your tree, you will want to remove such trees since their chance of survival is rather minimal. If a leaning tree does survive, you still run a risk of it toppling soon. Roots one of the most important parts of any plant species and if the roots do not have a solid establishment, it will not take much to blow a tree down. The National Arbor Day Foundation notes that if you have a very young tree that has been blown over, there is a chance for it to survive if you very carefully pull it back into an upright position.
How can you ensure your trees don’t become damaged in a storm? Species plays a big part in it. According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, species such as silver maple, box elder, and poplar trees are composed of brittle wood which does not stand up well in a storm. Another recommendation is to be one step ahead of nature and regularly prune back any dead or weak branches. It is recommended to keep on pruning around the tree’s crown, particularly when it is young so your tree develops a well-rounded shape with a center of gravity directly over the trunk which allows wind to easily pass through trees, according to the National Arbor Day Foundation.
As always, be aware of your surroundings when you are pruning your tree. Be aware of any overhead power lines that may be in your view. If you have a damaged tree, experts recommend staying at least 25 feet away from any downed lines and to contact your electric company to report down lines. If it looks like trimming or removing branches may be more than you can handle, don’t hesitate to call a tree service company as they will have the equipment and manpower to get you taken care of in no time. Finally, should you find yourself planting new trees, be sure you “Call before you dig” to make sure there are no underground lines passing through that may need marked.
