Storms can wreak havoc, damage trees and pose many threats to safety if not taken care of properly. Here in the Fraser Valley, we have been hit with a few intense storms the past few years. It is important to know that storm-damaged trees and improperly pruned trees can be cleaned up for appearance and improved structure. Read on to see how you can administer first aid to your trees and hopefully save them.
Check the health of your trees by assessing the amount of damage. Decide if you can save the damaged trees on your own, or if you need to call us for help. Then you can decide if you want to keep the tree, wait a little while or remove or replace the tree.
1. Keep it
Keep a tree if there is slight damage. If the leader is still intact and the structure for future branching remains , the tree will recover itself. Remaining limbs that can form new branch structures will grow more quickly to replace the missing foliage. If a damaged tree does not pose an immediate physical risk, the advice is simple: If you’re unsure about its condition, keep the tree for now.
2. Wait
Wait a little while and check the damage again. Be careful when pruning, so that you don’t prune too heavily. Give the tree enough time to recover. With larger trees, you should have a professional brought in to assess the damage and help with pruning and branch removals.
3. Remove or replace
Some trees will likely be damaged beyond the point of saving. This includes if the tree is weakened by disease, if the trunk is split, or if more than 50% of the crown is gone.
If a tree has a rotten inner core in the trunk or structural weakness in branching patterns, it can cause a split trunk and is unlikely to recover from the wounds.
Also check if the tree is a good fit for its location. Remove any damaged trees if they threaten safety or maintenance in the long run.
Replanting after a storm
When replanting after a storm, the most important thing to consider is diversity. Planting native trees recreate a natural ecosystem and lead to fewer pest issues, diseases, and invasive species.
City Responsibility
Lastly, if any of your trees are between the street and the sidewalk, it is typically city-owned and is therefore the city’s responsibility.
Tips for Treating and Tending to Damaged Trees
If you’re satisfied you can treat and tend to your trees and don’t need professional help, you can start the treatment process. Be wary of scammers that pose as professionals and be sure to validate their business before hiring.
- The first thing to do is clear out the obvious broken, hanging limbs. This minimizes the risk of decay agents entering the wound. Then, look at the angle of the leaves on branches still attached to the tree. They will give away tree limbs that might be broken and could fall later.
- Remove all damaged branches at the nearest lateral branch, bud, or main stem and not in the middle of a branch. Prune smaller branches at the point where they join larger ones.
- Don’t cut your main branches back to stubs. Stubs grow back weakly attached branches that are more likely to break during a storm.
- Remember to be careful and rather leave the chainsaws and heavy machinery to the professionals.
- Carefully use a sharp chisel or knife to trim away the ragged edges of wounds where bark has been torn away. This will eliminate hiding places for insects. Do not cut too deeply and try not to expose any more of the cambium (the greenish inner bark) than necessary because this contains the tree’s lifelines.
- If possible, all bark wounds should be cut into an elliptical shape, being careful to keep it as narrow as possible.
After Pruning
- After pruning is complete, all wounds larger than 5 centimeters in diameter can be coated with wound dressing or pruning paint. Areas of torn bark where tracings have been made can also be treated in this manner.
- Some forks and main branches that are split apart or partially broken may be repaired without removing one or both branches. This type of work is usually best left to professionals.
- Trees may be uprooted because of severe storms. If the tree is large, it cannot be saved and therefore must be removed. For some smaller trees it may be possible to straighten the tree. This can be dangerous and is also recommended to be done by professionals.
As a last thought, storm damage can also have some positive aspects: Materials from fallen or salvaged trees can be used in several ways. The larger branches can be cut and used for firewood. Smaller branches and twigs can be added to the compost pile or cut up for kindling. Branches can also be converted into chips for use as compost, mulch, or other landscaping purposes.
Check out more information on emergency tree services and tree removal. Contact us for a free quote in the Fraser Valley Area.
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