Minimize storm damage to your trees from strong winds and heavy ice with these simple tips.
Other trees, such asplant white oakandAmerican hornbeamare more storm-resistant.
Before planting a new tree, see to it to research its susceptibility to breaking in a storm.
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ensure newly planted trees have plenty of space to grow.
Trees that top 70 feet should be kept 20 feet or more from a structure or utility line.
Also consider room for root growth.
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A trees roots can spread two-and-a-half times the height of tree.
Tai Power Seeff / Getty Images
3.
Get a Good Start
Get your tree off to a good start and avoid future problems byplanting it correctly.
Credit: Holly Lepere
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball but twice as wide.
This willkeep the tree from girdling, or strangling itself.
Train Early
Good structure helps a tree withstand storms.
Often the limbs that come down in a storm are connected to the trunk at weak, narrow angles.
Remove branches that are broken, damaged, diseased, rubbing against another branch, or growing inward.
If staking a tree, remove the wires and stakes within a year so they dont girdle stems.
In cold climates, wrap thin-barked trees in winter to prevent bark damage from the freeze-thaw cycle.
How to Protect Older Trees
Pruning isnt always an option when youre dealing with an older tree.
In fact, it may be impossible to improve the structure of a mature tree without removing large limbs.
This can leave the tree unbalanced and set its growth back as it tries to seal large wounds.
Trees for Pinellas County - UF/IFAS blogs.
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellasco/files/2018/03/trees-for-pinellas.pdf
Fazio, J. R.
(Ed.).
How to make trees storm resistant.
