Arbor Facts
Trees have survived for many years on this planet by falling apart at certain wind speeds. Limbs are designed to peel away to increase the tree's chances for survival.
Natural disasters always come with wind speeds that produce tree-damaging forces. Nevertheless, property owners most often create the factors responsible for predisposing trees to storm damage. Communities and individual homeowners allow the structural condition of their trees to deteriorate to the point where even minor storms cause major tree damage. We can provide our best protection for trees by proper care when the weather is not severe.
We are our own worst enemy. Nobody ever thinks about the real reason trees fail. Instead, we blame the tree care company or the utility industry for the way they trimmed the trees. How can you improve your tree's chances of surviving a storm and lessen property damage?
Learn proper planting techniques and choose the right species for the climate and location. If you plant poor quality or the wrong species of trees in the landscape, you cannot expect them to withstand the weather. Pick trees that can withstand the pressure from your area's weather and environment.
Help your trees survive drought. A lot of young landscape trees burn up without watering and mulch.
Learn that most plants grow toward sunlight. When a house is built in a forest clearing, the limbs of the trees are going to grow over your house.
Plant high-quality shrubs that have one well-defined stem. Then, as they grow, you can prune and do crown lifting so that the shrubs will not be as susceptible to splitting apart during winter storms.
Learn about the site and soil conditions before planting. Urban areas almost uniformly suffer from compacted soil. It does not matter what the wind speed is; when the roots are not in the ground, the trees are not going to remain standing. If trees are not anchored in the soil, they fall over.
Advise utility companies on how to install cables, wires and pipes without fatally damaging a tree's root system. We build and excavate around trees and then wonder why they fall down when they get two inches of ice on their branches. It is hard for a tree to stand up when it has hardly any roots remaining.
Learn how to care for and prune trees properly.
Learn the early signs of tree failure before a storm hits. A tree can appear healthy but not be structurally sound.
Watch out for trees that have been struck by lightning. When you have severely storm-damaged trees, give them a dignified death. Cut them down and plant safe, healthy trees. Plant good species and give them good arboricultural care day in and day out if you expect them to withstand storm damage.
If you are unsure about your tree's health, call Ken's Tree Care at (201) 768-0694 and we will identify and remove hazards as well as treat the causes of tree health problems.
This information was provided by the National Arborist Association.