STORM DAMAGE TREE MANAGEMENT
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| Photo Courtesy of George Hoden |
Storm damaged trees left standing after general storm clearance
activities have been completed can become hazardous. Trees that could quickly
develop into hazards need to be evaluated and treated or removed. Good storm
damage management is much more cost-effective over the long run than cleaning
up fallen materials now and reacting to tree problems in the future. Evaluations
should be performed by a certified arborist before or at the time of initial
storm damage service. The goal is to minimize risk and protect assets,
including the tree itself. Always remember to take proper safety precautions
when dealing with and fixing storm damaged trees.
Initially, the homeowner can review storm damage according to the
following three categories:
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| Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service |
- Dead tree
- Snapped or twisted stem breaks
- Roots Broken-tree can be pushed over
- Leaning or bent pine
- Pine Lighting strike
- Branch damage leaving lopsided crown
- Hardwood with >50% crown loss
- Pine with >30% live crown damage or loss
- Large stress crack or twists in main stem
Treatment: Damage is not treatable and
the tree should be removed.
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| Courtesy of The National Park Service |
Category II Damage
Reference: https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/Storm_Damage_Quick_Guide.pdf
- Hardwood top broken <50% live crown loss
- Hardwood branches with <50% loss
- Pine <30% of branches loss or damage
Treatment: Prune the damage (drop the crotch if needed).
Water the tree as needed and watch for insect damage.
A soil test is recommended ad fertilize the tree the following year according to the results.
Category III Damage
- Hardwood lighting strike
- Twigs and small branches blown off
- Foliage destroyed or stripped
- Mechanical damage to main stem <30% of circumference effected
Treatment:Minimize stress on the tree by watering as needed.
Have a soil test done and fertilize based on results the following year.
Watch for insect damage while the tree is healing.
Reference: https://static.colostate.edu/client-files/csfs/pdfs/Storm_Damage_Quick_Guide.pdf
Additional
Resource Links:
Ask a Certified Arborist: The Georgia
Forestry Commission’s on-line service — “Ask the Arborist”. Complete a
form and a certified arborist will answer questions and evaluate conditions.
Is My Tree Dying? Is a helpful
general publication by the UGA Cooperative Extension Office which discusses
signs of a tree in danger. https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/C%201100_3.PDF
Certified Arborist
List by The Georgia Forestry Commissions:
Managing Storm
Damaged Trees Do’s and Dont’s:
