Spring is upon us, and although increasingly warm temperatures and sunny days typically accompany its arrival, there is also signature stormy weather with which to contend as well. If your landscaping trees fall victim to spring’s storms, there are steps that can be taken to improve the tree’s appearance, as well as steps that must be taken to prevent further damage or even death.
One of the most common ways trees are damaged is from heavy winds. Stormy winds frequently snap limbs. This can be true of the hardiest of limbs, but is especially true of the weaker ones. Once a limb has been torn from a tree, one of the biggest concerns becomes protecting the tree from exposure to the elements. This is especially true of a tree that otherwise would remain healthy, save the lost limb(s), if proper steps are taken to maintain its integrity.
For instance, in Austin, Texas, one potential demise of an uncared for or neglected oak is oak wilt. Unmanaged storm-damaged or broken limbs often attract the vectors responsible for causing oak wilt. If the exposed tree is properly cared for by the immediate application of a commercial tree paint, even a storm-damaged tree may continue to thrive. If the tree is uncared for, however, it is a prime target for the vectors that cause oak wilt, a secondary effect of the initial storm damage. With the neglect of just a very few simple steps that could be taken to save the tree, once exposed to oak wilt, the tree’s demise is practically certain.
Consult an Austin tree trimming specialist to assist you with the proper trimming of broken limbs and resulting tree damage. Not only can a certified tree professional assist with the damage that may be done as a result of spring storms, but he/she can also assist with aesthetics and the regular maintenance of trees such that the possibility of storm damage is lessened or even eliminated.
Another possible form of damage that may not immediately come to mind is flooding. This may be especially true if flooding is not typically a weather-related event in a particular geographical location. However, it should never be dismissed as a possibility, as any number of weather phenomena may occur in even the most unlikely of locations.
Damaging effects may come as a result of a major flood event or even as a series of small flash flooding events. Flooding may cause severe damage to the roots and trunk of a tree. There are variables that determine the extent of the damage, of course, but the most common include the location of the tree, the water level, the amount of time a tree’s roots and trunk remain underwater, and the species of tree. As some species, such as river birch and red maple, are more adaptive to flood conditions, any damage they sustain may be to a lesser degree than a species of tree which is not able to deal with such conditions.
Once flood waters recede, it is imperative to gauge any resulting root or trunk damage. This is important not only to the life of the tree, but also to things to which the tree may be proximal, including homes, fenced property lines, or power lines. Whether structural damage to the tree appears obvious or not, contact an Austin tree care professional, who can offer a quality opinion about the structural integrity of the tree, determine if the tree will need to be removed, and can oversee the removal of the tree if that is determined necessary.
About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading provider of Austin tree service in Central Texas. Certified ISA Austin arborist services including: tree trimming, tree removal, tree care and oak wilt treatment. For more information on Austin tree service, please visit https://centraltexastr.wpengine.com.
