9 Tips That’ll Help Protect Your Trees from Storm Damage

Canadian winters can be harsh, especially on the trees and plants that provide shelter for the rest of mother nature. With the weather growing colder and the winds whipping higher, it’s the right time of year to consider some proactive measures to protect the trees on your property and avoid the need for tree removal services later in the season.

1.Practice Proper Pruning

Tree removal is a drastic measure. With a little prudent pruning, even amateur arborists can prevent significant damage and enable their trees to grow stronger and taller. Always keep an eye on your trees to ensure they are growing properly, taking the space you’ve provided for them. Ultimately trees will grow where you want them to, so be diligent with your pruning to ensure healthy growth.

2.Let Trees Adjust

Trees have evolved to adapt to their surroundings, but they need to be given the opportunity to do so. While it’s a good idea to stake new trees in the ground to promote proper growth, it’s also important to remove these supports in order allow the tree to develop its root system, a critical defense when battling back against strong winds.

3.Eliminate Codominant Branches

When pruning your tree, consider removing codominant stems that split from the same point. These v-shaped splits can cause weak points in the tree, and should be removed as quickly as possible to prevent significant damage during future storms. Codominant stems often develop included bark, which is bark pinched between two stems. This pinching can create a future fault point in the tree, and should be avoided at all costs.

4.Healthy Trees Need Water and Fertilizer

Like most plants, trees can greatly benefit from healthy doses of water and fertilizer. When planting new trees, consider talking with a local arborist to ensure you are providing your new trees with the optimal balance of water and nutrients to foster a strong and sturdy tree and root system.

5.Excess Is Bad for Trees Too

While nutrients can be great in moderation, trees can suffer if they are overwatered or over-fed fertilizer and additives. Always be careful with what you are adding to the soil of your trees. If fertilizing yourself, consider consulting with an arborist or outdoor specialist to ensure you are providing your trees with the right balance of inputs.

6.Keep Pests At Bay

Even the largest trees can be brought down by the smallest of pests. Avoid the need for tree removal by keeping a close eye on the barks and leaves of your trees. Cavities, hollow spots, and dead stems may be a sign of disease or decay.

Always consult a local arborist to ensure your tree is healthy and free of disease before the next big storm hits. Trees that have been overtaken by pests or disease can suffer considerable damage when put under the stress a storm can produce, resulting in the need for tree removal.

7.Maintain the Structural Integrity of Your Trees

The structural health of a tree can be just as important as the plant health of a tree. Consider hiring tree pruning services to maintain the structural integrity of your trees, allowing them to grow in a shape and structure that will promote resilience during storms and harsh weather.

8.Avoid Overcrowding

The structural integrity of a tree is only as good as its neighbor. Always consider how much space a tree may need in the worst case scenario when planting (or pruning) a property. Large unhealthy trees can be incredibly dangerous to those nearby, and should be removed if too close to others in the area.

Contact a local arborist if you are concerned about a tree on the property falling before it’s too late.

9.Consider Lightning Protection

Those who maintain or live near taller trees should consider lightning protection where applicable. Lightning protection involves inserting copper conductors into a ground rod to reduce tree damage by conducting the electrical energy of a potential lightning strike into the ground. This method has the potential to protect both the tree that was hit, and the surrounding trees (and homes). Always contact a local arborist or tree removal specialist if lightning strike has hit a tree on your property, or you require some kind of tree removal help.

Tree Removal Needed? – Trust Your Arborist

While a number of the measures above can be used to reduce the need for tree removal services, these are only preventative measures. Some storms are strong enough to create damage regardless of owner preparation. However, arborists are ultimately an essential service in preventing future damage.

Contact Harmony Tree Services today for any tree service you may need. We offer tree removal, pruning, planting, and more.