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Community Corner

Prepare Your Trees for High Wind and Rains

Arborist gives tips on how to protect your trees.

Are your trees ready for a storm? Routine maintenance is the best way to keep your trees in top shape. But if your trees have not received preventive care, or you are concerned about the structural health of your trees, there are still some actions to take before Irene shows up.

It is probably too late to get an arborist out to your property before tomorrow  - you will just have to go outside and look for yourself. If you notice any defects or problems, I suggest taking a picture of the tree and keeping people and objects away from the tree while the storm is active. It is also a good idea to take a picture of valuable trees for insurance purposes.

What should you look for? Here are some primary considerations when doing a tree inspection:

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  • Dead, dying, and weakly attached branches - look for hanging branches
  • Dead trees;
  • Decayed or split stems and branches - look for darkly stained areas or mushrooms
  • Root disease or disturbances - again, look for mushrooms as they are obvious signs of decay;
  • Trees with dense canopies;
  • Trees with poor structure and shape;
  • Species with weak wood such as boxelder, silver maple or siberian elm

Obviously, during a violent storm any tree is likely to have problems. The care a tree receives AFTER a storm is important in keeping the tree healthy and structurally sound.

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