Branching Out: Keeping A Healthy Environment Through Tree Care

Preparing nearby trees for tornado season

When the rain begins to fall and strong winds begin to blow, you should pay attention to nearby trees. Tornado season can cause branches to fall off or even entire trees to collapse, which eventually results in injuries and property damage.

Heavy precipitation can destabilize trees and increase their risk of falling. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to prepare nearby trees for tornados, and to minimise the risk of property damage.

1. Remove dead branches and trunks

The first step is to hire a tree lopper, who will then inspect the tree for any dead branches. Dead branches tend to dry up and turn into heavy logs that can cause damage. Because your tree lopper has experience in identifying such branches, the best approach is to have these parts of the tree removed before strong winds begin to blow.

Dead or diseased tree trunks are also another common problem. If unstable, they can fall and exert tonnes of weight on your home or garage. Have your tree lopper inspect the trunk for any dead or diseased parts.

2. Pollard uncontrolled branches at the top

In some cases, your tree may be projecting an upward growth that results in loose branches at the top. While tree growth is a good thing, uncontrolled vertical growth can be a huge risk during tornado season. This is because such top branches are typically unstable and can be blown off by strong winds.

Have your tree lopper pollard these uncontrolled branches when the forecast indicates an upcoming tornado. 

3. Carry out crown lifting to prevent structural damage

The risk of damage from trees doesn't just arise from high branches. Lower branches can also become a risk to your windows, walls and other low-lying structures. During a tornado, strong winds and heavy rain can cause these branches to lose stability and fall off.

Crown lifting is an excellent solution for trimming or selectively removing lower branches. A tree lopper can examine weak or damaged low-lying branches to prepare a plan for removal.  

4. Ensure that drainage around the tree isn't blocked 

Another important step to take is to inspect the drainage system around nearby trees. When a tornado strikes, nearby leaves, soil and other vegetation can end up clogging drainage pathways and causing floods.

The first step is to make sure that all drainage pathways are clear. Next, have a tree lopper prune any loose branches that can potentially shed leaves into drainage systems.  


Share