How to Prepare Trees for Storms

Spring in Australia and more so Queensland are inevitably kicks off the storm season. It comes as no surprise that the risk of storm damage to property increases during this time period.

Preventive Tree Pruning and Maintenance

The best way to prepare trees for storms is to regularly maintain them. Happy, healthy trees are stronger and can withstand strong winds and damage better than trees that are brittle, prone to disease, or have structural problems. Taking steps now to care for your trees, such as scheduling tree trimming and having your tree examined for common tree problems, will reduce the risk your tree won’t recover following a severe storm.

Care for Roots

Although most people think of the branches and limbs when they think about tree care, ensuring the roots have no issues is an important step in storm preparation.

Weak roots due can lead to an increased risk of a tree splitting or falling in a severe storm. A tree can develop a weak root system if construction on the property damages them or the tree lacks a wide mulch ring which prevents damage to the roots when mowing the lawn. Making root care part of your tree maintenance helps the tree stay strong and hold up better in the event a severe storm, such as a tornado, comes in your area.

Additional Tree Storm Prep Tips

Here are some additional tips to follow to protect your trees from damaging winds, rain, and storms like tornadoes:

• Make sure your tree’s limbs are not near and do not touch power lines or service wires. If a severe storm blows the tree into the power lines, the situation becomes increasingly dangerous for everyone in the area.
• Check that your soil is not loose or gravelly, as this can increase the chance a tree blows over. Soil around trees should hold water well, not be too compacted, and has good drainage for watering your plants.
• Keep an eye how your tree reacts to mild winds. If you notice that the branches at the top of your tree are blowing heavily, the limbs may be creating a windsail effect. Having a Certified Arborist provide selective tree trimming will reduce the likelihood the limbs will react poorly to stronger winds.

For help with tree storm preparation, or if you have experienced damage to your trees after a storm and need assistance with tree removal, contact Unit’ Mob Tree Services today!