When to restore a tree after a storm

1. When to Restore a Tree After a Hurricane It may not seem possible, but even after a major storm or hurricane with high winds, many trees can actually be restored. As long as the major limbs are still intact, as well as the trunk and roots, and there is no decaying wood, the tree has a high possibility of surviving. The strong winds that come with a hurricane often cause all the leaves on a tree to be blown off. This is known as defoliation of the canopy. But, this doesn't mean that the tree has died. In fact, when the canopy is sabotaged, it's likely to be healthy. In this instance all you need to do is be patient and watch. As spring approaches the following year, new leaves will likely appear. Another reason for loss of leaves occurs when trees are flooded with salt water. Deal with this by irrigating the soil around the tree to get rid of any excess salt. If only small branches are broken or dead, you can usually fix this through some simple pruning. If you prune properly, the tree will have a high chance of recovery. In trees that are naturally resistant to decay, if only a few major limbs are broken, the tree may be recoverable. A good example of this is live oak. It is a species of tree which is adept at preventing decay. Even when there is major damage to branches, restoration is usually possible. Of course, the younger the tree, the more likely it can be restored. In decay resistant trees, major canopy damage doesn't always pose a problem either. These trees naturally recover well after storms, even with up to 3/4 of their small branches broken or removed. Smaller trees that are leaning or have fallen are good candidates for recovery. But remember that this is only applicable to trees that were established recently or that have a trunk size less than 4 inches. They can be put back in their place or replanted depending on the situation. For larger trees that you want to recover, contact the professionals. A small tree, however, shouldn't be a problem for the homeowner to reestablish without any outside help. Heres how to replant a small tree: Keep the roots moist at all times. Dig the hole to fit the roots perfectly and remove any damaged or jagged roots. Make the tree as straight as is possible and then fill it back with soil from the site. Take care of the tree like a newly planted one by watering it thoroughly. Three gallons per inch of the diameter of the trunk three times a week should be sufficient. Lastly, stake the tree and adjust the stakes until the tree becomes stable again and can be removed. Cleaning up tree damage and recovering trees on your property doesnt have to be a major undertaking. Of course, the difficulty and duration of the job will be contingent on the check us out extent of the storm damage, but generally speaking, the majority of trees are able to be recovered and restored to their previous glory.