How should I manage trees after a hurricane?

Do you have tree damage at your house? Trees can cause a lot of damage during a hurricane. One of the first things I did was assess the damage around the house. Some trees are easy to determine that they need to be removed, but others are more questionable. This article will help you determine what you need to do.

Evaluate the damage first and take photos for insurance if needed. The tree requires immediate attention if it is posing a safety hazard to people or animals or is endangering property. Some examples of this include trees leaning on or over power lines, blocking driveways or roads, and in public places and highly trafficked areas. Any trees over power lines should be removed by professionals.

At my home, we had a large tree limb fall on the house and although it did not appear to cause any damage, its removal was our first priority. The first thing my husband did was get out his chainsaw, although he got help in the end.

Many injuries occur due to mishandling chainsaws. Here are some tips if you are planning on using a chainsaw. Work only on the ground. Don’t do any work that requires felling, climbing, or roping trees. Work with a partner. Wear protective equipment such as googles, eye protection, gloves, leg chaps, and work boots. Take the time to do the job right.

Although we like to have a clean yard immediately, not all trees need to be removed immediately. Trees can recover from substantial damage.

It is best to consult professionals before undertaking any major restoration or removal. Contact a certified arborist if you are unsure about the status of a tree. You can find a list of certified arborists here.

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to remove or restore a tree. Trees with more damage will require more work. Larger wounds make it vulnerable to decay.

Some trees resist decay better and are better candidates for restoration. Trees like live oak, mahogany, winged elm, and buttonwood are more easily restorable. On the other hand, redbay, laurel oak, and water oak are more likely to decay due to damage.

Healthy trees with good tree structure are more easily restored. You may want to remove the tree if it has been topped, inadequate space, poorly located, or undesirable.

Here are some things to look for that indicates that it requires removal.

• The lower main trunk is cracked or broken.
• A large stem has split from the tree. The remaining tree structure is highly susceptible to breakage, such as most of the mass is one side.
• The major roots are severed or broken.
• The larger branches are broken.
• Girdling roots are causing dead spots and cracks in the trunk.

A tree can be restored if the major limbs, trunk, and roots are intact. Trees that are younger, less than 10 inches in diameter, make good candidate since there are fewer branches to prune, are lower to the ground, and can handle more of their canopy removed.

If a tree with a trunk diameter smaller than 4 inches is leaning or fallen, it can be uprighted and secured. Upright the tree quickly or protect the root system from drying out. They should be treated like newly planted trees and staked by a professional. These trees will need regular irrigation to establish again.

If the roots are circling the tree, cut these roots before replanting. With excessive girdling roots, the tree may need to be removed.

If you are anything like my husband, you may be saying what he did, “The next house we get will have no trees.” You may want to just remove all the trees. Although that may seem easier, trees have a lot of benefits during a storm. This includes reducing the wind coming to the house, especially if they are grouped in threes like many of my live oaks are. There are ample other benefits such as reducing the carbon footprint and reducing your electric bill.

The goal is to have the right trees in the right place. Stay safe out there and good luck in your cleanup.