Hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and ice storms can wreak havoc on your trees, killing them off and causing major damage to your property. However, with the right planning, you can mitigate this damage. By preparing your land to withstand storms and repairing the damage left by them, you can ensure your trees remain healthy, beautiful and safe.
Stay Safe: No Tree is Worth Your Life
Whether you’re cleaning up after a storm or trimming trees to prepare for the upcoming season, it pays to do a thorough inspection before starting work.
- Look out for any contact between trees and power lines, whether it’s a branch touching a line hanging from a pole or a downed line is against the trunk or roots. Separating the tree from an electrical connection is best left to the professionals.
- Check for cracking and splintering of large tree limbs. Working around these limbs could cause them to split off the tree entirely, posing a safety hazard for anyone around them.
- Look for limbs that have split from the tree but have become lodged in the branches. These need to be removed before working on the tree. If left in place, they could fall when the tree is shaken or one of the supporting branches is cut.
- As always, wear the correct protective gear when doing landscape work. That means non-slip footwear, gloves, head protection, eye protection, full length pants and a long sleeve shirt. Other safety gear like hearing protection may be needed for specific equipment: consult the owner’s manual for more information.
Preparing Trees for Storms
Fixing issues beforehand can mean less damage during a storm. Start by assessing any weak points including signs of cracking, mold and insect infestations as well as proximity to roofs and power lines. Addressing current or potential damage can prevent problems down the road.
Consult an arborist if a tree is leaning. They should be able to tell if the condition can be fixed or if the tree should be removed.
Evaluating and Correcting Damage from Storms
Once it’s safe to go outside again, inspect the tree for damage. At least half of the tree’s crown, the part of the tree that is above the ground, needs to be intact for the tree to remain healthy. Broken and splintered branches and limbs should be removed first, followed by cleanup of downed leaves and branches.
Keep Your Equipment Ready to Work
Cleaning up after a storm is a lot harder to do if your equipment isn’t ready to use. When you need parts for your Cub Cadet, order them from www.CubParts.com. We’re a certified Cub Cadet dealer with OEM parts for their full line of lawn care products including chainsaws and log splitters. Ordering is easy thanks to an advanced search system that can provide you with descriptions and factory diagrams to help verify the parts you’re ordering are the ones you need. We can ship parts and accessories to any address in the U.S. and Canada.