![]() Roach made the last-minute decision at 11 p.m. “I have two pairs of jeans, four shirts and a pair of shoes to my name. Spencer Roach, a Republican whose district represents a portion of Lee County. At best, its recovery will be retarded and it will almost never regain its original shape or beauty (see Illustration D3).“I lost everything I own,” said state Rep. A topped tree that has already sustained major storm damage is more likely to die than repair itself. ![]() Topping the tree will reduce the amount of foliage, on which the tree depends for the food and nourishment needed for regrowth. Also, the tree will need all its resources to recover from the stress of storm damage. Stubs will tend to grow back a lot of weakly-attached branches that are even more likely to break when a storm strikes. While storm damage may not always allow for ideal pruning cuts, professional arborists say that “topping,” cutting main branches back to stubs, is one of the worst things you can do for your trees. Don't top your trees! Untrained individuals may urge you to cut back all of the branches, on the mistaken assumption that reducing the length of branches will help avoid breakage in future storms.You'll be surprised at how fast they will heal, grow new foliage, and return to their natural beauty. With branches gone, your trees may look unbalanced or naked. Don't worry if the tree's appearance isn't perfect. Try not to expose any more of the cambium (greenish inner bark) than is necessary, as these fragile layers contain the tree's food and water lifelines between roots and leaves (see Illustration D2). To improve the tree's appearance and eliminate hiding places for insects, carefully use a chisel or sharp knife to smooth the ragged edges of wounds where bark has been torn away. For smaller branches, follow the pruning guidelines shown in the illustration so that you make clean cuts in the right places, helping the tree to recover faster (see Illustration D1). Large branches that are broken should be cut back to the trunk or a main limb by an arborist. Smaller branches should be pruned at the point where they join larger ones. If done properly, it will minimize the risk of decay agents entering the wound. Removing the jagged remains of smaller sized broken limbs is one common repair that property owners can make after a storm. Remove any broken branches still attached to the tree.And, unless you really know how to use one, leave chainsaw work to the professionals. Don't get under broken limbs that are hanging or caught in other branches overhead. Stay away from any downed utility lines, low-voltage telephone, or cable lines and even fence wires can become electrically charged when there are fallen or broken electrical lines nearby. Be on the alert for downed power lines and dangerous hanging branches that look like they're ready to fall. They have the necessary equipment and knowledge needed, and are generally listed in the telephone directory under “Tree Service.” ![]() If large limbs are broken or hanging, or if high climbing or overhead chainsaw work is needed, it's a job for a professional arborist. The Arbor Day Foundation urges home and property owners to follow a few simple rules in administering tree first aid after a storm: In the aftermath of a major storm, the initial impulse of property owners is generally along the lines of “let's get this mess cleaned up.” But hasty decisions can often result in removing trees that could have been saved.ĭoing the right things after trees have been damaged can make the difference between giving your trees a good chance of survival and losing them unnecessarily. In cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the International Society of Arboriculture
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