FAQ:

STORM DAMAGE, TREE DEFECTS, & HAZARDS:

1. My tree was damaged in a storm. How do I know if my tree is safe?
2. My tree has been struck by lightning. Will it be damaged?
3. The arborist said my tree is prone to breaking anyway, I shouldn’t be surprised. What does that mean?
4. How do I protect my tree from being damaged in a storm?
5. Our tree has been storm damaged and I want to try to save it. What can I do?
6. I was told my tree has a structural weakness. What does that mean?
7. My tree has a hollow trunk. Can I do anything to fix this?
8. How do I know if my tree is creating an electrical hazard?

My tree was damaged in a storm. How do I know if my tree is safe?

If you suspect or can see storm damage to your tree, you should get a tree care professional to assess the damage. If the tree does possess hazards, such as broken, hanging limbs, or a split branch union (sometimes called a branch fork) you should have your tree care company do an assessment. This is important because you could be held liable if the hazard branch or tree falls and damages property or causes personal injury.

Storm Damage:

Many shade and ornamental trees are damaged throughout the year by windstorms, ice and snow accumulations, lightening or other mechanical sources (automobiles, vandalism, etc.). Damage usually consists of a few broken branches. However, more sever damage such as splitting or pulling apart of branch unions, removal of large areas of bark, twisting and splitting of the trunk, or even uprooting may occur. These injuries usually result in a change in appearance of the tree and increase its susceptibility to a subsequent insect or disease attack. It is important that the damage be properly treated and repairs, if needed, made to maintain the health of the tree.

Assessing the Damage:

Minor damage with only the smallest branches of the tree being injured.
Usually, injury of this type results in little or no permanent damage to the tree. All that is required is clean-up of the broken twigs and branches and perhaps a crown cleaning or thinning prune to restore a pleasing shape.

More severe damage consisting of large broken branches, split crotches and or removal of bark, and splitting or splintering of the trunk.

Strong winds, heavy ice storms are the most probable causes. When a tree is severely damaged, the first question that must be answered is: "Is the condition of the tree such to make keeping it worthwhile?" A tree care professional should be consulted to help answer this question.Most arborists will take the time and effort to save a tree only if, when repairs are made, the tree will still be healthy, attractive, and of value to the property owner.The arborist may recommend removal of a tree that has brittle wood and a branch structure which makes it vulnerable to additional damage from future storms, such as with trees that have been topped.

My tree has been struck by lightning. Will it be damaged?

The short answer is yes, some damage will occur. The extent depends on the severity of the lightning strike.

Trees struck by lightning:

Lightning damage to trees often is more serious than its outward appearance. You may notice a strip of bark running from near the top of the tree to the soil, appearing as if it were torn or burnt away. There could be shattered branches, limbs, or even parts of the trunk, appearing as though they were dislodged by an explosion.

Whatever you see on the outside has probably occurred to a more serious degree on the inside. The vascular tissue of a tree may have been heated and/or burnt to a point where large sections of the tissue have been killed. Also, the lightning may have traveled into the root system, damaging or even killing whole sections of the roots. It may take a year or even longer to know the full extent of damage from a lightning strike. A tree care professional should be consulted to determine if the tree can be saved. After a lightning strike, an arborist’s recommendations might include:

• immediately repairing any physical damage that could be a hazard or create more damage to the tree. Usually this means removing broken or hanging limbs.
• removing the entire tree if it poses a hazard or before it becomes a hazard.
• waiting at least 6 months or even longer to see the full effects of the damage before any treatments are given to the tree.
• If the tree will survive, the arborist might recommend installing a lightning protection system to protect it from future strikes.

In addition to its condition, other factors to consider in determining whether or not a tree is worth saving include:
• its age;
• species;
• growing location;
• the value it adds to the property;
• and sentimental value.

If it is determined the tree is not worth saving, remove the tree as soon as possible. If it is not removed and the tree dies, it could become a hazard tree. Removal of hazard trees is dangerous to the tree care crew and requires special techniques, adding to the cost.

The arborist said my tree is prone to breaking anyway, I shouldn’t be surprised. What does that mean?

Some tree species, such as catalpa, boxelder, Chinese elm, cottonwood, poplars, silver maples, and willows, have brittle wood which is easily broken in storms. These rapid-growing trees are prone to damage. Homeowners should be aware of these characteristics and avoid planting such species close to buildings, utilities, pedestrian areas, etc. where damage could occur.

If storm-damage prone trees are already growing in these locations, some preventive practices, such as pruning and bracing or cabling, may help reduce the potential of storm damage.

How do I protect my tree from being damaged in a storm?

Storms in all shapes and forms create havoc with trees throughout the country. It’s bad enough losing a big tree, but the greatest danger in a storm is the property damage and casualties that can occur when big trees fall. Preparing trees for these natural disasters is a must and should be done well in advance of the stormy season. To help ease these dangers, have a professional arborist evaluate your trees. Doing this will help you determine potential weaknesses and dangers. Over the years, growing trees will "catch" more wind and become heavier, so they are prone to increased mechanical stresses, thus increasing the chances of failure. Larger trees will also affect an increased area should they or their larger limbs fall. This means that power lines, homes and other structures that might not have been threatened a few years ago might suddenly be under threat by a tree that has grown.

Consult a tree care professional. Ask the arborist to evaluate problems you have found and prioritize treatment. You should also ask the arborist to look for signs of potential hazards, such as stress cracks, weak branches and other subtle or hidden indicators of potential hazards.Look at your trees for the following warning signs:

• Wires in contact with tree branches. Trees may become energized when they are contacted by electric wires.
• Dead or partially attached limbs hung up in the higher branches that could fall and cause damage or injury.
• Cracked stems and branch forks that could cause catastrophic failure of a tree section.
• Hollow or decayed areas on the trunk or main limbs, or mushrooms growing from the bark that indicate a decayed and weakened stem.
• Peeling bark or gaping wounds in the trunk, also indicates structural weakness.
• Fallen or uprooted trees putting pressure on other trees beneath them.
• Tight, V-shaped forks which are much more prone to failure than open, U-shaped ones.
• Heaving soil at the tree base is an indicator of a potentially unsound root system.

Remember, too, that a tree is a living thing, and its integrity and stability changes over time. Don’t assume that a tree that has survived 10 severe storms will necessarily survive an eleventh. By following nationally recognized pruning standards, you can successfully reduce the weight and length of individual tree limbs as well as the tree’s resistance to wind movement through the crown . Cabling and bracing techniques can be used to provide additional structural strength for individual limbs, or even entire trees.

My tree has been storm damaged and I want to try to save it. What can I do?

That depends on the amount of damage. First, an assessment needs to be done. This will help determine if the health and safety of the tree has been compromised. The arborist can also make recommendations on how to proceed.

Pruning and installing cabling and bracing are two alternatives. You also should keep the tree healthy by providing irrigation and fertilization if needed. If the tree was struck by lightning but will survive, you might want to install a lightning protection system to protect it from future strikes.

I was told my tree has a structural weakness. What does that mean?

In a recent tragedy in Queens, NY, four girls died when a tree fell on their school bus. It was an accident that could have been averted had city officials heeded the warning signs of a hazardous tree. By not paying attention to your trees, you are potentially placing your property, even your life, and that of others, in jeopardy.

Tree Defect Clues:

Fortunately, one can often read the clues which indicate that a tree is prone to failure. For instance, if a tree has large branches attached with tight, V-shaped forks, you should consider having those branches removed or lightened. Other warning signs of structural instability include cracks in the trunk or major limbs, hollow and decayed areas, or the presence of extensive dead wood. Mushrooms growing from the base of the tree or under its canopy may be a sign of root decay. On the other hand, just because you may not see fungus growth does not mean there is no decay.It pays to be highly suspicious of any tree that has had construction activities such as trenching, addition or removal of soil, digging or heavy equipment movement anywhere under the spread of its branches. These activities can cause root death, which in turn could lead to the structural instability of the tree.

My tree has a hollow trunk. Can I do anything to fix this?

Filling of hollow trees, a process called “cavity filling,” was practiced by arborists for many years. Some of these old time arborists were true artisans when one views their handiwork. However, thanks to modern research, it has been discovered that cavity filling is not needed to support or improve the health of hollow trees.Tree experts have found that cavity filling with cement can actually damage a hollow tree. According to technicians at the National Arborist Association, “the column of cement created in the tree by a cavity fill doesn’t move, just like a column on a building, but the tree is always moving. It sways with the wind constantly. The rubbing created by the swaying tree and the solid column of cement further damages the tree.”Wood decay fungi that created the hollow in the first place are able to take advantage of the new injuries created by the rubbing and invade the remaining healthy tissue of the tree.The technicians add, “If that wasn’t bad enough, the cement holds moisture, creating a favorable environment in the filled cavity for the wood decay fungi!” Tree experts explain that it is much the same as when carpenters place a vapor barrier between a house’s foundation and the wooden sills. If they put the sills directly on the concrete foundation, the wood will rot rapidly. If you place cement in a tree cavity, it will speed the wood decay!If cavity filling is desired for aesthetic reasons, there are some new synthetic foams that can be sprayed into the cavity by professional arborists. These materials will bend with the swaying tree, reducing injury. However, there is really no reason to fill a cavity other than for aesthetic reasons; it doesn’t improve the tree’s health and doesn’t offer any added support. If structural support of a tree is required, a professional arborist will recommend cables, braces, tree guys, or removing the tree, not cavity filling.

Tree experts recommend:

• not filling cavities with cement;
• supporting, if required, with cables, braces, or tree guys;
• if you must fill a cavity, have a professional arborist install a synthetic foam fill.

How do I know if my tree is creating an electrical hazard?

Even a healthy and otherwise safe tree can become hazardous if it is growing close to electric power lines. Someone who touches or climbs a tree while it’s resting on a live power line can be electrocuted. Any tree that has limbs within 10 feet of overhead lines should be considered hazardous, and should be left to the professionals.

If you suspect a hazard condition, it will pay to have your tree evaluated by a professional. You could be held responsible for any damage or personal injury caused by a tree on your property.