What to do before the storm

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What to do BEFORE the Storm

As we all know, fall and winter storms can be devastating to trees. Before extreme weather arrives, you can reduce the likelihood of tree or branch failure. These failures can be damaging or fatal to the tree, but more importantly, they can be dangerous for people and property.

Our arborists are skilled in evaluating the risk presented by each tree (see our article on TRAQ). We can check your trees for dead branches and internal cavities, along with other warning signs of potential failure. Pruning will minimize the risk of damage in most situations. For especially vulnerable trees, such as mature or over-mature trees, specialized pruning techniques or additional support from cables can prolong their life and vitality.

Though falling shrubs don’t pose much danger to us, they are often vulnerable to weather and can require some special care to stay healthy and beautiful through a tough winter. Winter winds and the freeze/thaw cycle typical of our area can exact a heavy toll from evergreen shrubs. Antidesiccant applications will help these shrubs still look green and healthy when spring finally arrives.

We also recommend a 1 -2” layer of mulch to insulate the roots of trees, shrubs and perennials. Winter mulch has many benefits:

It stabilizes temperature fluctuations in the soil and mitigates the upheaval caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.
It helps to retain moisture in the soil.
It reduces weed germination in spring.
It gradually decomposes and releases nutrients to the soil.

As a final preparation, make sure you have the telephone number of your local Almstead office (see on right) stored along with your other emergency numbers.