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Horticulturist provides information on
pruning storm-damaged trees |
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July 25, 2014 |
by Mike Bauer, Horticulturist,
Moose Valley Farms
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On the evening of July 23, a severe windstorm
struck north Idaho, leaving downed and damaged
trees throughout the area. Many readers may be
asking, “How do I care for my damaged trees?”
Assess the damage – is the tree worth saving? If
it has at least 50% of the canopy left after the
storm, then it is worth trying to save it. Is
the tree a hazard to property or people? If it
is, consider removing it.
Consider the type of damage to the tree. Tears,
breaks and splits are all bad for the tree
because the jagged borders of the injury heal
very slowly, and have the potential for diseases
and insects to enter the would.
Prune judiciously. Resist the urge to prune
heavily, because the tree will need as much of
its canopy as possible in order to have the
energy to recover. Prune only broken branches,
with the goal of reducing wounds to have the
least exposure to air as possible. Trim bark
that is peeling. If the branch to be removed is
2 inches in diameter or more, use the three-cut
method to assure the bark isn’t peeled away when
the branch is removed. A three cut prune can be
achieved by making a cut from underneath the
branch a few inches out from the trunk. The next
cut is made from the top of the branch a few
inches out from the first cut. The third cut is
the final cut made at the branch collar.
Give the tree time to recover. It may take years
for the tree to recover, but if has a reasonable
chance for survival, take the time to see how it
will fare after the storm.
Mike Bauer is the Horticulturist for Moose
Valley Farms, a full-service garden center
located in Naples at mile marker 495. Please
feel free to call us at 267-5108 or stop in if
you have any questions. |
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