Everyone in New Jersey remembers the absolute devastation we sustained two years ago with the landfall of Hurricane Sandy. The first picture that comes to mind is the Jersey Shore, roller coasters and all, underwater. However, us here in Northern NJ know that the damage affected the entire state. Away from the shore, downed trees blocked roads, fell on homes, and injured civilians.
With hurricane season starting up again, it’s important for everyone in New Jersey to be prepared for a late summer storm. One great way to protect your property and the ones you loved from hurricane force wind and rain is to prepare your trees. Below are three simple ways to strengthen or stormproof your trees against the forces of nature and reduce their risk to you or your property during a storm.
Prune
When we think of storm damage attributed to trees we often think of entire trees falling down in one piece. However, branches are the usual suspects when it comes to tree damage during storms. A heavy tree canopy can result in significant broken branches that can fly off in heavy winds or be dragged down by heavy rain. To protect your property from this risk it is important to prune your trees regularly. Pruning trees consists of thinning out your tree’s canopy by removing dead or dying branches that are more likely to fall during storm conditions. If you cannot safely prune your trees at ground level or aren’t quite sure the proper technique, we recommend consulting a professional tree company for assistance.
Mulch
Now that we’ve covered how to prepare the top of your trees it’s important to touch upon the lower section: the roots. Out of sight, out of mind should not be a motto to describe your trees’ roots as we move towards hurricane season. You may not realize how badly past storms have weakened your tree’s root system. A good fix to help hold them on the ground and keep them in place during dangerous weather is to surround the bottom of the tree with mulch. Mulching strengthens your tree’s root system by adding an extra layer of protection against high winds.
Inspect
If something on your tree looks bad it probably is. In our last blog entry we spoke about Black Knot Disease and the way it infects and weakens trees. This disease, among many others, along with cavities and holes substantially weaken tree and leave them prone to falling down during heavy wind and rain. If you see a hole or identifiable disease growing on your tree give us a call at (201) 444-0315 so we can schedule a time to take a look at it and provide you with recommendations. If you want to learn more about tree diseases and pests in our area, check out this page from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Mother Nature is stubborn. Unfortunately, sometimes impeccable planning isn’t enough to prevent what she has in store. However, taking care to protect your trees for the worst significantly lowers the risk of them becoming dangerous during late summer or even early fall (as we learned from Sandy) storms. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so take a look at your trees before the storms get here!