Hurricanes are especially damaging to larger landscape trees, although even young trees are immune to possible destruction. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to both protect a tree before a storm as well as to help it recover if the tree has already suffered hurricane damage.
Resilience Care
When it comes to hurricane-force winds and stormy weather, resilient trees are more likely to survive. Although tree variety and planting location play major roles in resilience, proper maintenance and care can also increase the survival abilities of your trees.
Annual Pruning
Keeping on top of annual pruning is one of the best ways to ensure storm resilience. Your tree service will cut out any dead or weak branches in late winter. This is also the time to remove branches that cross and rub, show signs of disease, or that have poor growth form.
Overly long branches may be trimmed back so they don't overhang buildings. Your service may also recommend thinning out the crown to reduce weight stress on the root ball.
Bracing Options
Young trees may benefit from staking to help them withstand high winds, at least until their roots establish. Cabling or bracing may also be recommended for larger, more mature trees. These methods involve installing cables or metal rods to anchor large branches or multiple trunks together. These work to stabilize the tree so that it is less likely to split during high winds and hurricane events.
Root Health
Healthy, deep root system are key in preventing trees from blowing down in high winds. Avoid parking cars or using heavy machinery over the root zone of a tree, as this compacts soil and damages roots. Periodic aeration of the soil around the roots, when combined with proper water and fertilization treatments, will also increase root health and strength. Your service can assess root health annually and recommend treatment plans for any issues.
Resilience Care
Sometimes hurricane damage still occurs regardless of your best efforts. Fortunately, there are ways that your tree service can help damaged trees recover so that they will thrive again.
Hazard Cleanup
Initial tree cleanup begins as soon as it is safe to access the trees following the storm. Uprooted trees can sometimes be replanted if the roots aren't badly damaged. Your tree service will cut out broken and badly damaged branches, removing them back to the branch collar where they join with a large branch on the trunk.
0If the trunk has split, then your tree service may be able to splint it back together with the help of metal braces. If this isn't possible, then the tree may require removal.
Cultural Care
It can take a year or more for a tree to fully recover from major hurricane damage. If there were root damages, then your tree service may thin out and reduce the crown so there is less stress on the root system.
Excess silt that collects around trees due to hurricane flooding may need to be removed so it doesn't smother the root systems. Light fertilization and careful water management will help the tree recover more quickly.
Restoration Pruning
Continued pruning will be necessary as the tree recovers. It isn't uncommon for branch dieback to occur a few months following major storm damage. Promptly trimming out the affected branches is necessary for safety and to reduce the chances of pest or disease. Major pruning to shape the tree should be avoid, though, until it has a chance to recover fully. Otherwise heavy pruning may stress the tree.
Contact
McClain's Tree Experts if you want to ensure your landscaping trees can survive hurricane season.
