Read about how to check trees after storm. Trees are incredibly strong, yet flexible structures. Not only do trees support the weight of their own structure, they are also able to stand up the worst that the environment can throw at them.
Trees are both the weight lifter who can withstand huge forces and the featherweight boxer who can duck and weave and avoid danger.
However, everything has its limit. There is always someone or something that is stronger or quicker. For trees this can equate to adverse weather conditions. No matter how strong or healthy a tree is, under certain weather conditions even sound trees can be at risk.
This Blog post will discuss how you can identify if your trees may have sustained damage and what you can do about it.
Trees in a stormThe evolution of trees has been a tradeoff between strength, energy expenditure and speed. Some trees grow very slowly and as a result are very strong. However, this “costs” them a lot of energy and they run the risk of being overshadowed by faster growing species.
Some trees grow very quickly and can reach the light and spread their roots before other trees.
However, this often comes at the price of being weaker.
Beautiful oak tree
Beautiful willow treeKnowing the species of your tree and its growth habit can indicate to you how it may perform in a storm. Slower growing trees are more likely to hold onto their branches to protect their investment. Faster growing species are happier to separate themselves from limbs as they can just grow another one.
How to check trees after storm and prevent future tree damage.
Tree damage after a stormTo protect the system (the entire tree) a tree will sacrifice parts (branches, limbs). This strategy ensures that even if weather conditions get bad, something will remain from the tree to grow on afterwards. This natural breaking mechanism means that even healthy trees will fail under the right (or wrong) circumstances.
So far, we have talked about branches and limbs falling but sometimes the whole tree can go over.
Often in cases of complete tree failure the root system has been compromised in some way. This can be from mechanical damage such as digging or trenching, compaction from vehicles, infection from pathogens, environmental influences (such as too much or too little water), or combinations of some or all of these.
Compromised tree root zoneIn heavy rain conditions the ground can get waterlogged. This can affect how much grip the soil surrounding tree roots has on the soil further out. Combine this with a strong wind and the root plate can begin to move in the ground. This effect can be heightened when the rain is unseasonably heavy, and the wind is from an unusual direction.
All of this may sound concerning, however, it is important to remember that most of the time most trees do not fail. Trees as more likely to fail when you have a weakened structure and abnormal weather conditions. So as a tree owner, what can you do? Here are some bullet points to help:
- Find out the species of your trees, this will help indicate strength.
- Check for obvious signs of damage or dysfunction – cracks, holes, dead branches, fungi (mushrooms), broken branches.
- Check for signs of root disturbance – excavations in the root zone, changes in water levels, fungi, exposed or damaged roots, movement in the ground surrounding the tree.
- Check the weather report when a storm is coming for the severity.
- Have your trees inspected and maintained on a regular basis by a suitably qualified and experienced Arborist.
- Check your trees following a severe weather event and if in doubt call an Arborist to inspect them for you.
- If you own many trees, consider having a tree survey done which will list vital information about each tree and show a record of all the inspections and remedial work that has taken place.
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Rossy and the Team.
Rossy | 021 508 806 | treecareauckland.co.nz
