Blow downs
We have certainly had our fair share of wind so far this spring. Obviously wind is a huge driver of work for any tree care company. We get significant calls about big trees coming down as well as cracked and hanging limbs. A significant number of calls come through our office for ornamental trees that blow over. Trees like Plums, Leyland Cypress and Arborvitae where the roots pull up and the trees list. Many people request that we come and upright the trees and stake them . This seems like a simple job and makes logical sense that staking would fix the problem. We have found there is often more to it than that.
At times a strong wind is plenty to bring down healthy plants. However, trees with good ,healthy , established root systems should be able to withstand a good amount of wind. Tree establishment when planting is a vital component to tree stability. Here are a couple of things that may be contributing to trees failing in the wind. One, If new trees are container grown and the roots have hit the edge of the container and turned down at a right angle those roots may never grow out wide enough to provide stability . It takes a keen eye and a skilled planter to identify and then root prune those plants properly to establish strong lateral roots . Secondly, If the trees are planted too deeply the roots can languish in their development and the ratio between roots and canopy can be out of whack. Another major issue can be over mulching. If mulch levels are too deep it can cause root decay which severely weakens the root system. Finally, roots that girdle the trunk can form at or below the ground and further constrict proper development of a strong lateral root system. Staking trees that have blown down is often times just dealing with symptoms and not often enough the underlying cause. It may even be best to remove a younger tree and start over with good cultural practices. Most trees that get staked up will only fail again in a subsequent windstorm. Trees like people must learn to stand on their own through the trials they face.
