2020 and 2021 set new records in terms of weather and climate disasters. In recent years, the US has seen tornadoes, cyclones, and severe weather events across the country. Tragically, they caused 688 direct or indirect fatalities.
You might not see all of these events in Kokomo, IN. But the question is, can you sleep soundly when the wind blows? To answer yes, you need to have battened down the hatches and taken care of tree trimming.
Majestic trees around our houses may look great. But they pose a threat in a storm if they haven’t been properly trimmed ahead of time. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of why tree trimming is so crucial to preventing damage from storms.
What Storms Do to Trees
Think about the battering trees that take day-in, day-out, even from regular wind. It’s a marvel that they keep standing in the first place. They’re able to withstand these forces because they adjust their development to compensate.
Their trunks get thicker, essentially giving them more core strength. They also develop stronger structural roots that anchor the tree. They can even adapt their growth pattern to become more streamlined to withstand the onslaught better.
The regular wind is like a workout for trees. It helps them to develop strength, and that’s why they keep standing. But sometimes, a storm comes that is so ferocious that it threatens to take the tree with it.
A Tree’s Achilles Heel
At this time, their boughs are the most susceptible to damage. They are designed to be easy to shed when the tree is under stress, so they’re not as solidly attached as the roots are. When they’re subjected to side loading from the wind, they can snap off.
We’ve all seen pictures of what they can do to cars, roofs, and outbuildings. Nobody wants that to happen to their home or belongings or, worse still, cause injury to their family members inside.
The only perfect solution would be to have no trees – and nobody wants that. The next best thing of importance is managing the risk by employing a regular tree trimming service.
Importance of Tree Trimming – Ideally, Start Young
It’s not always an option to start trimming trees while they’re young. The chances are you’ve bought an older home that is surrounded by mature trees. More on that later.
But if you are in a new home with young planting, you’ve got a great opportunity to direct that growth. Try to avoid staking the tree – that doesn’t give it chance to withstand the wind and adapt to its surroundings. Instead, call in a tree trimming service for some functional pruning.
This type of pruning requires a good understanding of how trees grow and how you want them to develop. It involves lopping off weaker branches and allowing the tree to focus its energy on developing strong branches in the right places. It also makes the tree more friendly to its environment by removing low-hanging branches that reduce visibility at eye level.
Trimming Mature Trees
Mature trees already have an established shape and mainly need to be trimmed for safety reasons.
As weaker branches have already been removed, trimming mature trees is usually about removing dead or dying branches. In a storm, they’re vulnerable to breaking off and causing damage. A tree trimming service will not normally remove branches with fresh growth from a mature tree.
How Often Should You Trim Your Trees?
Whether the tree has suffered storm damage or not, it’s best to inspect and trim a tree once a year. For deciduous trees, the fall or early winter is the best time after they have dropped their leaves.
During the tree trim, the company will identify and eliminate crossing branches. Because they rub together, they’re always at greater risk of failure.
A tree trimming service will favor promoting branches that have a U shape or an angle of more than 45°. They form the strongest connection to the tree and provide the most security in a storm.
Should You Top Your Trees for Protection?
The short answer is no. It might seem like a good idea to top your trees – that is, remove the top of the main stem of the tree and the upper branches. But it makes the tree more susceptible to disease and rot.
This could cause the tree to die, and then you’ve got another problem on your hands. It’s best to have an annual tree trim from a specialist company that knows how to direct the growth of trees safely.
Emergency Tree Trimming
Sometimes, even with the best of preparation, a severe storm can cause serious damage to a beloved tree. To prevent further damage to the tree, people, or property, you need to call emergency tree trimming services.
If the tree has already caused damage, call your insurance company first. They will usually ask you to call an emergency tree trimming service to make the tree safe.
Don’t expect them to rush in wielding their chainsaws willy-nilly. They will carefully assess the situation, taking into account everybody’s safety first. Then they’ll strategically treat the problem.
One key part of the assessment is determining whether the tree is still viable. If the storm damage is severe and it’s caused damage to the trunk, they may need to cut the tree down.
Grace Tree Service – The Right Choice for Tree Trimming
Tree trimming is essential to keep your home and family safe. If you overlook it, you could find that branches and even entire trees come crashing down. That’s especially true if 2022 brings as much extreme weather as the last two years did.
At Grace Tree Service, we’ve been serving the people of Kokomo, IN, for 20 years. As well as regular tree trimming services, we provide a 24-hour service for emergency tree trimming.
Contact us today for a free estimate.