How To Reduce Your Trees' Susceptibility To Storm Damage
Damage from storms is one of the most serious threats your trees face. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to prevent your trees from getting damaged every time there is a storm. Here are some of those measures:
Prune and Trim Appropriately
Pruning and trimming can go a long way in mitigating wind damage, but only if you get it right. Ideally, you want to thin the tree's foliage or canopy without endangering its health. This works because it reduces the surface area of the tree on which the wind can act, which reduces the total wind force experienced by the tree and helps it survive strong winds. Removing some of the main branches so that the wind can blow through instead of pushing against the tree can also help.
Plant the Trees in Groups
Wind resistance should start during the planting stage. For example, planting trees in groups, especially trees of the same species, can help them withstand wind forces in future. This works because, when the trees are in a group, the wind has to act on all of them (and some of the wind will be dispersed) effectively minimizing the wind force for each tree
Help the Roots to Grow Healthily
Trees with weak roots are more likely to be uprooted by strong winds as compared to trees with strong roots. Therefore, encourage and help your trees to develop strong and healthy roots.
Again, this is something that should start when the tree is being planted, encouraged as the tree grows and maintained in mature tree. When planting a tree, choose a relatively young one whose roots will grow deeper and stronger; planting bigger trees may not have the same effect. In addition, you should dig a big hole to allow the each tree's root to grow big and spread wide with ease. As the tree grows and matures, avoid compacting the soils around its base (compacted soil reduce uptake of water and minerals), don't underwater or overwater the tree, and prevent root damage.
Protect the Trees' Barks
Apart from the tree roots, the bark also helps in strengthening the branches and trunks so that he tree doesn't crack, split or break when acted upon by wind forces. Diseases (such as fungi), physical damages (such as cuts), and extreme temperatures are some of the things that can weaken or decay a trees bark and make the tree susceptible to wind damage. Prevent those things and you will be helping your tree withstand wind forces.
Contact a tree service for more help.
