July 23, 2018

Homeowners have a lot of excellent reasons to plant trees and other times that a storm makes professional tree removal necessary. Not only do they add beauty and character to the landscaping but they also provide shade and many benefits to the soil. Whatever the age and size of the trees on your property, it’s important to take care of them. This involves knowing how to make your trees resistant to storms which threaten to knock them over, break off their branches, or uproot them entirely. Here are some of the things you can do to “stormproof” your trees.

1. Plant Smaller Trees

Although it may sound backwards, smaller trees hold better and develop healthier root systems than larger trees do. Because stronger root systems make trees better at handling high winds and rain, you should consider planting smaller trees that will be less likely to get damaged when severe weather hits.

2. Give Them Room to Grow

Instead of planting small saplings randomly throughout your yard, consider what they’ll look like when they become fully grown. Trees should have well-spaced limbs and branches to avoid structural damage like breakage during a storm.

3. Protect the Trunks

If you have severe temperatures in your area, wrap tree trunks in burlap tied with heavy twine to offer protection from severe temperatures and even wind. You may even want to construct a burlap tent around the tree by putting stakes in the ground surrounding the tree and then wrapping the stakes with burlap and twine.

4. Have the Right Tools

Having the right tools to care for your trees is crucial. Your tree damage prevention kit should include garden stakes, a sledgehammer, enough burlap and heavy twine to wrap each of your trees in bad weather, a floating row cover, sharp knife, and a folding pruner or bucksaw.

5. Keep an Eye on the Sky

Particularly if you live in an area that has a lot of storms, you should keep an eye on what the weather is doing. This allows you to think ahead so you can be prepared and provide these essential tree care tasks well before you need it.

Whether you know it or not the trees on your property are helping you live more comfortably, and you should be keen on returning the favor as you can. As it happens, there are several things you can do to protect trees from the inclement weather. After a storm hits, you may want to call a professional.

NATURAL SYSTEMS arborists are highly trained in Tree Removal, Tree Trimming, and Stump Grinding. Call us at (860)621-0008 to find out more about our expert arborist services in Southington and central CT.