With Tropical Storm Florence threatening to hit the East Coast the week of Sept 10th, 2018 it’s important to make sure your trees are safe and able to handle the storm.
Below are the best actions you can take to make sure your tree is ready to weather a storm.
1. Look Up.
The next time you are out in your yard take a minute and look up at your tree. Make sure to look at all parts of the tree including the canopy, trunk, and base. If you have any of the bad health signs below give an arborist a call ASAP.
Tree Safety Warning Signs:
- Large branches attached with tight, v-shaped forks. These branches are prone to failure and may need to be lightened or removed.
- Cracks in the trunk of the tree or in major limbs
- Fungi growing from the base of your tree or under its canopy. This could be a sign of root decay.
- Branches that are pointing/hanging downwards these damaged branches can easily fall during storms.
- Partially attached limbs hung up in the high branches that could fall.
- Large cavities in the tree trunk.
- Wires in contact with tree branches.
2. Preventative Pruning.
Regular tree maintenance can mean a world of difference when it comes to a tree’s strength during a storm. Preventative pruning reduces wind resistance and removes dead branches. This reduces the risk of the tree or the tree’s limbs snapping under the force of wind gusts.
3. Take A Look At Your Neighbors’ Trees.
You neighbors’ trees aren’t on your property but that doesn’t mean they can come crashing down on your house, shed, or car. Do a visual examination of your neighbors’ trees to see if there are any tell-tale danger signs. Or better yet, talk to your neighbors about having an Arborist inspect their tree.
4. Proper Mulching.
Proper mulching protects the root system of the tree and allows water and nutrients to drain down through the soil to the roots. This keeps the root system healthy which helps the tree stay strong during storms. Unhealthy root systems can lead to trees uprooting and snapping in heavy winds.
5. Invest In A Plant Health Care Program.
Like our Canopy Protection Program, annual plant health care programs protect your tree from insects and diseases through preventative seasonal treatments and routine monitoring. This keeps up the overall health of the tree which gives it the ability it needs to weather a storm.
Bonus Tip! – Write Down Our Phone Number
Sometimes no matter how much you prepare your tree may be no match for a strong hurricane or storm. The last thing you will want to do after a tree falls on your home is spend time searching for a reputable tree company. And in many cases, you may not even have the tools to search for a tree service company because your internet is down or there was a power outage. Instead, write down our number or save it to your phone. We offer 24/7 Emergency Tree Services so the sooner you call us the sooner we can come out and help.
LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMON REASONS WHY TREES FALL DOWN
Need Help With These Safety Tips For Hurricanes?
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Or Call Us at 703.573.3029
