Summer months include long hot sunny days that we can enjoy by the pool or lake, but can also bring thunderstorms and high winds. While trees provide shade in these very hot months, they can also be a source of property damage during these summer storms.
What is "Storm Damage"?
Storm damage occurs when a tree or limbs from the tree fall and damage valued property. This can range from a tree limb falling on your gutter to a large tree falling onto your home. Storm damage results in millions of dollars in property loss every year.
A Silver Maple fell onto a house following a wind storm. The tight "V" crotch near the base of the tree made this tree a likely victim of the wind storm.
Is it Possible to Prevent Storm Damage?
Of course! While it’s difficult to always predict nature, storm damage can often be prevented and sometimes eliminated by mindful homeowners.
3 Tips: How to Identify Storm Damage Risks
(See Photos Below)
The key to reducing potential storm damage is identifying the hazards. The following are a few simple ways to try and identify potential hazards.
Identify hazardous dead limbs close to your house or other valued property
- Identify declining trees on your property - Look for these:
- A large number of dead limbs in the canopy of the tree
- The existence of fruiting bodies on the trunk of the tree
- Overall the tree doesn’t look healthy (missing leaves, loose bark, etc.)
- Identify Co-dominant stems
- Tight “V” type crotches
- Multiple stems originating from one point in the trunk.
How to Mitigate The Hazards
At Russell Tree Experts we can help to identify the hazards. Once the hazards are identified a full mitigation plan will be put together. The plan may include but not limited to pruning, removal, and cabling to make your property a safer place.
In Summary
A well-maintained tree with regular pruning and care has been shown to result in a stronger more storm-resistant tree. Identifying hazards and putting together a mitigation plan can save you thousands of dollars as well as save you lots of headaches when storms hit!
Sincerely,
Chris Gill, Russell Tree Experts
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-6416A