Storms Expose Unprotected Trees

publication date: Mar 3, 2008

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author/source: Roswell Beacon

What you can do to prevent future damage

The recent storms that raced through Roswell and the northern suburbs caused many trees to topple over and inflicted major havoc to commuters. This storm though is only one of many that can hit the area each year.

University of Georgia experts estimate that insurance damage due to tree loss is over $10 million every year. Knowing how to protect your trees from damage will help keep them upright rather than on your roof.

Tree Types
Some trees are more prone to wind damage than others. The immensely popular Bradford Pear frequently loses branches in storms due to its pretty vase-shaped growth. The narrow angle between the main trunk and the side branches produces a weak junction which fails easily.

Most of the trees that were uprooted in last week's storms were pine trees. This is because they have a relatively shallow root system, a characteristic that was likely compromised because of the recent the drought.

Condition of the Tree
Trees that suffer from prior damage due to lightning, previous storms or disease will be inherently weaker than healthy trees. Areas where a side branch has been torn off expose areas beneath the bark branch can not only harbor insects, but can give them a direct conduit to the interior of the tree where they can cause significant damage.

Shape of the Tree
Trees have a natural, and usually beautiful, shape which adapts well to strong winds and ice storms. Pruning the tree can increase its susceptibility to damage. Unfortunately poorly pruned trees, often courtesy of the utility companies, leave many mature trees with an uneven canopy. This unnatural shape leaves one side of the tree to break the winds, while the other side has no branches and the trunk takes the brunt of the storm. This torque effect can twist parts of the tree, and eventually it will break.

Topping trees also produces a canopy that is full of weak branches. Topping removes all the large branches of a tree at the same time in an effort to reduce the height of the tree and minimize damage. However, the result is that a mature root system will push up many smaller branches in an effort to rebuild the canopy. The fast growing, weaker branches topple easily and cause damage.

Minimizing Damage
Clearly not all damage can be avoided. Straight line winds, downdraughts and winds in a tornado will damage even the best specimen of trees.

But damage can be minimized by first choosing a good tree for the area and one that is not prone to damage. Monitoring the tree and promptly dealing with insect damage and disease will help keep the tree healthy.

If a branch falls and leaves an ugly tear along the trunk of the tree or side branch, make sure that you remove the whole side branch at the "collar" near the next main branch. The “collar” is a slight thickening at the junction of old growth with new growth and can easily be found when you look along the branches. A neat, sharp cut at this point of growth will heal faster than a tear.

Trees naturally sway in wind and this action should not be inhibited by staking. Some staking of small trees may help keep them upright, but the lines should not be tight enough to stop natural movement which helps strengthen the tree.

Dealing with Damage
Heavy branches and large uprooted trees are best left for professionals to deal with. If you have a branch over a power line, call the power company as soon as you can. Likewise if the tree uproots and disrupts gas lines you need to call for immediate professional care.

For smaller problems, gather the fallen limbs and cut into smaller pieces for disposal. If you want to save some wood for winter fires, cut the branches into appropriate sizes and store under a tarp or canvas to dry. Most wood should be left for at least a year to season well and be useful in your fireplace. Remember to store the wood away from the house so that you do not invite rodents and insects into your foundation.

Remove branches that are lying on other trees, and consider dealing with trees that have not fallen, but have bent considerably during a storm.

Georgia has an estimated 50-70 storm days per year, so the past storm is just the first of many that are likely to occur this year, and being prepared is a wise landscape decision.

For more information on minimizing storm damage and a list of storm prone trees check http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/C806.htm