Here in Florida, we get our share of hurricanes and tropical storms. Whether it is a level 5 hurricane or a tropical cyclone, the reality is that many trees will suffer damage in this kind of weather. Hurricane tree damage can cause a myriad of problems, some of them being extremely costly to your home while causing insurance premiums to rise.
Serving residents just like you for many years, we know a thing or two about hurricane tree damage. In this blog, we will cover what you need to know about tropical storm and hurricane tree damage. We will also help you determine whether the tree can be restored or if it needs to be removed.
As we talk about hurricane tree damage, let’s take a minute to discuss the urban forest and how trees Provide hurricane protection. An urban forest consists of all trees in the community. Many trees are planted as individuals in urban environments. But a healthy urban forest is managed as an entire ecosystem. These trees create shade, which helps to lower temperatures in neighborhoods and cities during the summer. It can also help reduce rain storm runoff and prevent or minimize flooding.
It is important for cities to manage trees properly, as they provide many benefits to homeowners. This includes protections to highways, and yes, even hurricanes.
However, after a hurricane, a community can look to rebuild and plan an urban forest to help with storm damage in the future.
A healthy urban forest look something like this:
Now that you know why trees are so important when it comes to the function of the local community as well as preventing hurricane damage, let’s talk about the steps for cleaning up after a hurricane and even assessing the damage.
Let’s say that a hurricane just came through, and you are walking outside to see how much damage there is in your property. Right after a tropical storm or hurricane, you need to decide what you should do with hurricane tree damage. Some damage to trees is devastating, but there are other circumstances where the tree can still survive with the proper care.
Meanwhile, some trees may not require any type of treatment or restoration at all, allowing you to leave it alone.
There are two options to consider when it comes to hurricane tree damage. You can either remove the tree or restore it. Deciding which action to take depends on the extent of the hurricane tree damage as well as the species of tree.
These are some general guidelines that will help you determine and assess damage to trees after a hurricane, along with deciding what to do.
Even if the tree appears to have undergone quite a bit of damage after the hurricane, hope is not essentially lost. Trees can be restored after a hurricane, but only if they still have major limbs, trunk, and roots intact. The tree should also not have cracks, decayed wood, or any bark inclusions.
Meanwhile, roots cannot be out of the ground. As long as the structure of the tree was strong prior to the hurricane or tropical storm, restoration is an option.
These are some other guidelines to consider when restoring a tree after hurricane damage:
As you can see, there is plenty of opportunities to restore hurricane tree damage. You can bring your tree back to life with a little bit of work.
While there is certainly a chance to restore many trees after hurricane damage, there are often times where you may need to consider removal. These are a few considerations to make when tree removal is necessary for the protection of your home:
Whether you need to remove or restore the tree, there are times when you can do it yourself but there are also situations where it is necessary to hire a professional. Safety is incredibly important no matter which route you decide to take.
There are certain situations that require the help of a professional. For example, tree trimming services such from Warner have adequate equipment and insurance to handle hurricane tree damage.
We are equipped to take down trees as well as removing dead or hazardous limbs after hurricane tree damage. With the proper tools and experience on hand, hiring a professional greatly reduces the risk of injury or further damage to your property.
What can Warner Tree Service help you do with your trees?
Even if it’s not hurricane season, we are happy to help with caring for your trees. There are many reasons why property owners need to trim and remove trees.
Trimming helps keep the trees healthy while promoting fruit growth in trees such as citrus, banana, and more. Meanwhile, sometimes trees are too close to your property and their roots pose a risk of damage, which calls for tree removal.
When in doubt about tree trimming or removal, even with hurricane tree damage, please contact Warner Tree Service for help!