There is some extreme weather in the Carolinas, including seasonal storms. The way you maintain your landscaping could be contributing to your trees’ vulnerability during foul conditions. Make sure that you pay attention to Tree Care to prepare and heal your property’s trees for inclement weather and storms ahead.
Some tree care tips include:
Avoid Over-Pruning
An over-pruned tree is going to be more vulnerable and at risk of damage during storms. Even if removing problem limbs or broken branches makes your tree look a bit uneven or misshapen, resist the urge to keep cutting and over-prune. Prune prudently and trim thoughtfully; new growth and foliage will come soon enough and fill in any spots that you might think are unsightly at the moment.
Remove Broken Branches
As mentioned, it is important to remove broken branches before and after storms or extreme weather. Compromised branches and limbs could pose a potential danger to both property and people that are in the immediate area. Cut back broken branches or limbs to where they meet the trunk, if possible. Make a clean cut on an undamaged part of the tree to prevent any further issues or disease.
Check the Bark
It is also important to remove any torn, damaged, or raggedy bark on the trunks of your trees. These spots provide a place for bacteria, fungi, and pests to hide- causing damage to your tree over time. The layer of green bark under the outer layers carries nutrients throughout the tree, so be careful not to damage or remove this vital layering.
Keep Healthy Growth
Don’t cut and kill healthy growth. Many homeowners make the misguided decision to cut-back healthy branches and limbs to curb the damage that could occur during a future storm – don’t do this! The truth is, cutting back these branches will spur new growth that is even more vulnerable to the rigors and havoc of seasonal storms. Leave healthy growth alone and focus on removing any damaged, diseased, or dangerous limbs instead.
Be Careful
Always keep safety in mind when maintaining your trees and landscaping after a storm. If you see lines that have fallen, never assume they are safe to work near; call an arborist or landscaper. Also, branches may be woven in with stable limbs and could fall, causing injury, when working on the tree. Simply use caution and common sense.
Take time to inspect and assess your trees for damage, both before and after storms. If they are damaged, contact a landscape professional or arborist to rehabilitate and renew your trees or landscaping.
Want to restore and recover your trees from storms? Talk to the experts at a Commercial Landscaping and Ground Services Company in Charleston, SC, Carolina Services Grounds Division, a division of Carolina Services Inc. They can prepare your trees for the coming weather, while also optimizing the looks of your landscape.
