Australian weather can be so volatile. One moment you're basking in the sun, and the next minute there's a ferocious thunderstorm surrounding your home. When we moved to our first property, we had a near-miss when part of a tree came down during a storm. Luckily, it missed our house, but it did flatten my gorgeous rose garden. Tree maintenance is very important in Australia, and my blog deals with all the different ways you can maintain the health of your trees. From pruning to identifying tree rot, find out how to look after your trees, so they don't come tumbling down when the winds pick up.
5 Post Storm Tree Maintenance Needs
Summer storms can pummel landscaping trees, leading to major damages to your home, property and landscaping. Acting promptly after the storm passes can help the damaged trees survive.
Check for Immediate Hazards
It's important to check on your trees as soon as it is safe to go outside and do so. Immediate hazards to look for include trees hung up in aerial power lines, trees that have fallen on buildings, or damaged branches that may break and crash to the ground. Don't try to mitigate these hazards yourself as it can be very dangerous. Call in a tree service for emergency service if these hazards are present.
Lop Damaged Wood
Wind and hail can break branches and split trunks. In many cases, this type of storm damage can be fixed, but only if the damaged wood is lopped off before it causes more damage. Broken branches need to be removed. Branch stubs from snapped branches should be cut back to the trunk or to where it joins with a larger branch. Removing damaged wood can help a tree recover much more quickly.
Anchor Where Necessary
Sometimes high storm winds can cause a tree to loosen in the ground. After the storm passes, the tree may be leaning or the ground can look churned up from tree movement during the storm. Both of these issues mean a tree is more at risk of falling in future storms. Fortunately, leaning trees can often be saved if a tree service installs anchoring stakes to help hold it steady as damaged roots grow back and better anchor the tree.
Repair Bark Damages
Ragged, torn bark on tree trunks is a common post-storm problem. Blowing debris can tear the bark, which leaves the tree open to pest and disease infestation through the wound. Trimming off the ragged bark to create smooth edges helps encourage the tree to seal the wound more quickly, which reduces the chances of infection entering through the bark wound damage.
Prepare for Future Storms
Chances are the first summer storm of the year won't be the last, so take advantage of storm cleanup to have your tree lopping service perform tasks to lower the risk of future storm damages. The service will trim out weak branches, for example, or thin out overgrown canopies to reduce damages in high winds. Acting now can prevent more severe damage in the future.
Contact a tree lopping and removal service in your area if storm damage has affected your trees.