A Word About Winter Storm Damage
Mother Nature’s Moment
by: Lesley Bruce Smith, ISA certified arborist
Bradford Pears took a big hit in the November storm because of their poor structure and the fact that many of them still had their leaves on. This one is a total goner.
Why is it important to repair damaged and broken branches in the winter? You might be surprised to learn why.
In the unexpected and heavy November 2015 snow storm we experienced a large amount of tree damage. As I have been driving around the North Shore it is obvious that many of the broken or hanging branches have not been attended to. The reason it is important to “repair” these damaged branches NOW is because without leaves the damage is easier to see and it is easier to correct. However, come spring leaf out, those same damaged branches could have much more added weight loads and sail area. This makes them so much more of a hazard. The unexpected thing about heavy snow load damage is that there are often cracks that are not easily visible from the ground. Cracks that become a huge hazard once loads are increased.
Photos by Lesley Bruce Smith
If you can see the damage, it is important to repair. If you haven’t taken a moment to look up at your trees, or just are not sure, be sure to call your Arborsmiths to have the trees inspected, so come spring you can just enjoy them.