Assessing A Storm-Damaged Tree
Posted on: 11 September 2018
Storms cause tree damages all the time, but this doesn't mean that all storm-damaged trees should be removed. Ideally, an assessment should be made on each tree to determine whether it can survive or not. Those that have a chance of survival should be saved and only the doomed ones removed. Here are some of the things to look out for during the assessment.
Other Damages Other Than Storm Damage
The first step is to determine whether the storm damage is the only thing you are dealing with or the tree is suffering from other issues. For example, is the main trunk healthy and sturdy or is it dead and rotten in some places? The healthier the tree is, the easier it will be to save. However, if the tree is weak, say several of its branches are dying, then trying to save it may not be worth all the trouble. Another example is if the tree had recently suffered root damage, say due to construction; in such a case, the combination of the two sources of stress may be too much for the tree to bear.
The Sizes of the Damages
You also need to evaluate the sizes of the damages of the individual branches especially in relation to the sizes of the branches. Consider the examples of a crack that is two inches deep; such a crack is more of a big deal if it is on a small branch (say three inches thick) than if it is on a big branch (say six inches thick). The greater the damages as compared to the sizes of the affected limbs the more it will be difficult to save the tree.
The Affected Limbs
Next, you need to assess the number of affected limbs and the position of the affected limbs. For example, you should consider removing the tree if more than half of its major limbs are affected. On the other hand, saving the tree may be possible if only a few of its limbs have been affected by the storm. The positions of the affected limbs also determine their importance to the tree so that should also be considered.
For example, some trees have two main limbs branching from the main trunk; in such a case, a serious damage to one of the limbs may affect the tree more than it would have if the tree had multiple big limbs.
Hopefully, most of your trees will survive after storm damage. However, do not hesitate to remove the weak ones as advised by a company like Brown's Tree Service; if you leave them, they may fall without warning and cause damage and injuries.
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