Preparing your trees ahead of storm season can save you thousands of dollars in long run. As residents of Chapel Hill, Durham, and Pittsboro know all too well, tropical storm season is upon us. In fact, over 80 percent of storms that hit North Carolina occur between the months of August and October. Downed and uprooted trees are an all-to-common sight in our area, and we likely all know someone who has been unfortunate enough to experience the devastation caused by a tree falling on their property. But how can you prevent being a victim of a tree-related disaster?
While it’s not possible to prevent all damage to trees during natural disasters, there are many steps that homeowners can take to protect themselves and their neighbors against tropical storms and hurricanes. Here are Pure Tree Care’s top recommendations for preparing for storm season:
- Prune trees regularly. Take preventative action and have your trees pruned by one of Pure Tree Care’s certified arborists, ensuring that your trees can withstand the next storm. A skilled arborist can not only remove dead growth and branches that overhang power lines and property but can also thin the canopy of your trees, which reduces wind resistance and improves the health of your trees. Strategic pruning really is the first line of defense against storm damage. The NC Forest Service provides some good pointers on effective pruning. https://www.ncforestservice.gov/Urban/pdf/stormTreeCare.pdf
- Regularly assess the trees surrounding your home. Look out not only for dead trees but also for trees that look top-heavy, appear to have cavities, splits, or a co-dominant trunk, which make them liable to shear in a storm. Also be on the lookout for trees that are leaning towards property. Taking preventative action before a storm hits could save you and your loved ones from serious harm. Pure Tree Care offers site visits to assess the health of your trees. Regularly inspecting your trees can save you a lot of money and problems down the line.
- Check that the ground around your tree is not being eroded by irrigation, mowing, or over-mulching. This will ensure that your trees develop a strong root system and can access nutrients in the soil. A healthy tree is less likely to fall victim to a storm.
- Finally, do not be tempted to attend to large or difficult trees without expert help. Our qualified arborists have years of experience in climbing trees, dismantling hazardous material piece by piece, and handling chainsaws safely. Believe us when we say it’s harder than it looks!
So, are your trees prepared for the next storm? Questions? Concerns? Contact Pure Tree Care today and we’ll be happy to help you prepare for storm season with a free consultation at your home.