Learn / Ask The Landscape Professional
Trees: We have now had three major weather events damage trees. It appears that the blizzard has done more damage to trees than the other two storms. Birch trees, cedars and Eastern white pines look to have been especially susceptible. What should we know about how much damage a particular type of tree can sustain?
Answer
You point out three especially brittle trees but any tree can succumb to storm
damage depending on where it's located, the general condition of the tree,
how it has been growing, the configuration of the branches and whether
there is hidden rot and decay that weakens the tree. There are a few wise
things you can do before, during and after a storm:
1. Have your trees inspected and pruned (if needed) by a CT licensed
arborist once a year. Sprigs & Twigs will do that inspection free of charge.
The arborist can remove, unsafe crossing branches and those most likely to
break during storms,
2. Consider removing trees that are close or threatening your house or
other buildings, better to have a controlled removal than letting Mother
Nature do it during a storm.
3. During a snow event, if you can reach the limbs take a broom and in a
gentle upward motion, jar the limbs to shake off the snow and
4. If your trees do sustain damage, have us come over and inspect them.
Sprigs & Twigs will do that inspection free of charge. If repair is necessary,
we can clean up damage to give the tree the best chance of survival.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
