Restoring Trees After a Hurricane

1. Restoring Trees After a Hurricane

2. WHAT IF ??

3. Could Happen HERE!

4. Signs of a Hazardous Tree • Dead limbs • Thinning crown and slowing vigor • Forked trunks and sharp angles • Fungus growth on/at the base of the trunk or large limbs • Wounds or cracks • Cankers • Sudden leaning • Construction activity nearby in the last five to 10 years • History of failure such as previous limb drop • Adjacent trees removed ,damage to the root system • Signs and degree of decay

5. Signs of a Hazardous Tree Determining and detecting the degree of decay requires: • Visual inspection or • Utilize the services of a professional arborist with a resistograph • http://www.asca-consultants.org

6. Signs of a Hazardous Tree • Problem species • water oaks • All pines except Japanese Black • Chinaberry • sweet gum • sycamore • Chinese tallow • mimosa • Pecans • Chinese elm trees. • Maples • ash

7. How long does restoration take? • Size of tree - smaller trees take less time to recover • Age - mature trees will require more time and care • Species - pest resistant trees will recover better • Amount of damage - more damage = more time • Speed of growth - faster growth = faster heal! A tree requires 2-5 years or more to restore depending on various factors:

8. How long does restoration take? • Before the hurricane have the facts and tools read 2. After the hurricane: Decide if restoration is necessary and develop a response plan 3. And, for the next few years: Implement a multi-year corrective pruning and pest control program

9. + fuel & extra chain + file

10. Assess damage first… ….before deciding to restore. Ask: • Other than the storm damage, is the tree basically healthy and vigorous? • Are major limbs broken? • Has the leader been lost? • Is at least 50 percent of the tree's crown (branches and leaves) still intact? • How large are the wounds?

11. Assess damage first… • Are there remaining branches that can form a new branch structure? • Is the tree of a desirable species for its location? • Is the tree leaning? • How long will it take? • Is the tree worth saving? • Can this be done safely? • What will it cost? • Can this be done without help?

12. Worth saving ? Worth saving ?

13. Which is worth saving?

14. Response Plan After the hurricane Step 1: Remove hazards Step 2: Stake leaning trees where possible Step 3: Clean canopies of damaged trees

15. Remove all hazards: Fallen tree or branch near power lines Broken, cracked, and hanging limbs located near property Large, fallen trees blocking traffic areas After the hurricane: Step 1 DANGEROUS! Only experienced workers should handle these situations!

16. Immediately following storm: Step 2 Stake fallen/leaning trees when possible: • Small trees (approximately 4” trunk diameter or less) • Recently planted trees Do not let the roots dry out! Water and cover with tarp or compost until tree can be re-planted.

17. How to Stand a Tree Up • Keep roots moist. • Excavate the hole to re-accommodate roots. • Cut jagged or torn roots with sharp tools, making clean cuts. • Take measures to protect the trunk. • Pull tree up and backfill with site soil. • Do not replant too deep. • Mulch

18. Immediately following storm: Step 2 A – poor B – good C – best 8. Water as if the tree were recently planted. Irrigate 3x a week with 3 gallons/inch trunk diameter. There is no need to fertilize at this time, but a root activator is OK. 9. Stake the tree. Adjust stakes and remove when tree is stable, (2-3 years). 10. When it is time - remove the stakes girdling

19. How to Stand a Tree Up How Big? = How much can you afford?

20. Immediately following a storm:Step 3 Clean canopies of damaged trees: Remove broken, hanging stems first so that branches do not fall and cause injury. After a Storm

21. Canopy Cleaning Make clean cuts on stubs, breaks, and tears. Reduce back to lateral branch if one is present. After a Storm

22. Cutting Larger Limbs The swelling at the base of the branch is called a collar. Presence of a collar indicates a strong attachment.

23. cut

24. Do not top your trees! Topping severely reduces the entire canopy of a tree, cutting large limbs back to stubs. This practice is very harmful to the health of the tree. But, healthy trees can recover! – in time

25. Response Plan Immediately following storm Step 1: Remove potential hazards Step 2: Stake fallen trees where possible Step 3: Clean canopies of damaged trees Before the next visit • Allow trees to regenerate energy reserves • Develop a tree management program in the community

26. How long? Deciduous and broadleaf evergreen trees: • Trees should begin sprouting by spring of the year following the hurricane (April for hardiness zones 9-11) • Wait until sprout growth slows before next pruning visit • Use small amount of fertilizer – based on soil tests

27. Sproutsemerging

28. Over time, sprouts develop and can grow into strong lateral branches… …but they need your help!

29. Remove some- Remove 1/3 of the sprouts to allow space for the most vigorous ones to grow. Reduce some- Shorten 1/3 of the sprouts. They will continue to store energy, but will eventually be removed. Leave some- These will develop into the new branches.

30. Once growth slows a bit… Remove some Reduce someLeave some

31. Before After

32. After first restoration pruning

33. Recap - Factors that affect restoration • Size of tree - Large maturing shade tree vs. small, ornamental tree. • Age - Estimate by comparing the trunk diameter to the size the species reaches at full maturity. • Species - Is the species prone to decay? Have poor growth habit? • Amount of damage - What percentage of the canopy is damaged?

34. Weak vs. Strong

35. Recap - Amount of damage 30% canopy damage ► Come back after one year 50% canopy damage ► Come back after two years

36. Recap - Amount of damage More than 50% canopy loss: Monitor carefully over two year period and decide whether tree is recovering or declining.

37. Young Trees

38. Storm breaks off top

40. After 3 months

41. After 9 months

42. 8 months later stake Close-up

43. One year after initial damage

44. Palms:Canopy cleaning on palms • Remove broken and dead fronds that could fall and hit a target • Leave bent green fronds attached to palm until new fronds emerge fully • Leave fronds that are yellowing or have brown tips. Use a root-stimulator or root-activator according to label directions.

45. Palm cleaning Leave live fronds Remove dead fronds

46. Leave green, bent fronds

47. Remove broken fronds that are smothering the bud

48. Allow at least 6 months after the storm for palms to put out new growth. • Approximately 1 to 2 years palms will appear normal with a full canopy.

49. Pines • Pines do not re-sprout when all of the needles are brown, the tree will not recover. • Broke pine trunks do not re-generate well.

50. Gone…… …with the wind!