Summer storms in Massachusetts can be unpredictable. There are years where you can get quite a few storms, and other years seem relatively quiet on the storm front.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also predicts an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season for 2024, driven by near-record warm ocean temperatures, developing La Niña conditions, reduced wind shear, and lessened trade winds – all conditions that are conducive to more frequent and intense hurricanes.
On top of that, climate change impacts, such as the warming of the oceans and atmosphere and the rising sea levels, increase the energy available for storm formation and surges.
Given these increasing risks, being well-prepared for severe weather is a must. Let’s look at how you can protect trees during storms to ensure tree health and safety on your home landscape.
How to Protect Trees From Severe Weather
Proper tree care is essential to ensuring strong trees when severe storms and winds come through.
But there are some differences between how you maintain younger, newly planted trees and how you care for more established, mature trees. Here are some proactive tree protection strategies you can try for each tree type.
Young Trees
- Staking: Proper staking can provide necessary support to young trees, helping them withstand strong winds until they become established. Ensure the stakes are placed outside the root ball and are not too tight to allow for natural movement, which helps in developing a strong trunk.
- Root Development: Promote deep root growth by watering deeply but infrequently. This will help young trees anchor more firmly into the soil.
- Mulching: Apply mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture, reduce weeds, and protect the roots. Keep the mulch away from the trunk to prevent rot.
Mature Trees
- Inspection: Regularly inspect mature trees for signs of disease, decay, or structural weaknesses. Pay special attention to branches that overhang structures or power lines.
- Cabling and Bracing: For trees with heavy or extended limbs, consider cabling and bracing to provide extra support. This can help reduce the risk of breakage during high winds, but it is best done by a Massachusetts certified arborist with experience in these techniques.
- Watering and Fertilization: Maintain proper watering and fertilization practices to keep mature trees healthy and resilient.
Why Tree Trimming & Pruning are So Important
Tree trimming and pruning are crucial parts of preparing trees for severe storms for several reasons. Here are a few ways they help improve tree safety and resilience:
- Reduce Wind Resistance: Proper pruning of a tree canopy can help reduce the negative impact of strong winds that can uproot the tree or break large limbs during a storm.
- Remove Dead or Weak Branches: Dead or weak branches are more likely to break off during severe weather, causing damage to property and posing safety hazards, which is why pruning them before hurricane season is important.
- Improve Tree Health: Regular pruning promotes healthy growth and allows for better air circulation and sunlight penetration, which can help reduce disease and pest infestations.
Trees to Watch Out For
How to prepare trees for storm season also includes looking at trees that may be especially susceptible to injury.
Trees with dense canopies, for instance, such as oaks and maples, can catch more wind and are more likely to suffer damage during storms. Regular thinning of the canopy can help reduce this risk.
Dead or dying trees are also particularly vulnerable to breaking or uprooting during severe weather. Removing these trees can prevent potential damage.
Finally, newly planted or young trees have weaker root systems and are more susceptible to being uprooted by strong winds. Ensure these trees are properly staked prior to storm season.
Tree Care After Severe Weather
By taking these tree care steps after a storm, you can help protect your trees and Massachusetts landscape from the impacts of storm season.
- Assess: After a storm, carefully assess your trees for damage. Look for broken branches, leaning trees, or signs of root damage.
- Tree Pruning: Remove any broken or damaged branches using proper tree pruning techniques to prevent further injury to the tree. Consult a Massachusetts certified arborist for larger trees to avoid injury.
- Support: If a young tree has been partially uprooted but is still alive, consider providing additional support through staking or cabling.
- Water and Nutrients: Ensure the trees receive adequate water and nutrients to recover from the stress of the storm.
- Professional Help: For large or severely damaged trees, consult a professional certified arborist who can provide expert advice on whether the tree can be saved or if it needs to be removed for safety reasons.
Remember, a well-maintained tree is a resilient tree, capable of withstanding the forces of nature while enhancing the beauty and value of your property.
At Hartney Greymont, we have local arborists throughout Massachusetts located in Needham, Concord, Danvers, Cape Cod, and the surrounding areas to help you with your storm preparation and post-storm tree care.
How To Prepare Trees For a Storm In Massachusetts.
