Storm Cleanup Only the First Step After Ivan

Four years ago, the big concern was hanging chads in Florida; now it's hanging tree limbs.

While you may have cleared all of the fallen trees, limbs and assorted debris from your yard following Ivan’s onslaught, you’re still not out of the woods yet.

For the sake of your property and even your personal safety, you still need to assess the landscape trees still standing.

“It really should be a question in the mind of every homeowner,” says Neil Letson, Extension’s urban forestry coordinator. “What effect did the storm have on the safety of remaining trees, and, equally important, how should these affected trees be treated?”

In some cases, problems already caused by aging or disease may have been worsened by by the storm. Whatever the case, there typically are four signs associated with unstable or dangerous trees.

First, look for leaners --- trees that have been partially uprooted and leaning to one side.

“Any tree leaning to one side is a red flag calling for assessment,” Letson says.

Cracks are another major sign of trouble.

“Cracks often occur when forces of nature, such as a hurricane, exceed the load a tree is able to bear,” Letson says. “What this typically means is that the structure has been compromised and the tree or part of it will eventually come down.”

Pay special attention to cracks in areas where the limbs attach to the trunk of the tree. Also be especially wary of cases where two stems have come apart where they have previously grown together.

“Separation of wood fiber --- where you can see beyond the bark into the wood --- is a telltale sign,” Letson says.

In all of these cases, there is a very high likelihood that the branch or the stem will crack and fall to the ground, he warns.

“In most cases, stem cracks are irreparable and the entire tree will need to be taken down,” Letson says. “Otherwise, cracked limbs should be removed as quickly as possible.”

The most common tree problem associated with storm damage involves hangers --- cases where broken branches in trees or crowns are still partially attached to the main branch.

“Most often they hang at a 90-degree angle from their original position,” Letson says. “It’s just a matter of time before they come crashing down.”

Finally, look for suspended branches --- similar to hangers but that have broken completely free but are still suspended in a tree.

“The danger is that hangers or suspended branches will eventually fall and become a misguided missile to property or some other target, including people or pets,” Letson says.

There are a number of items around the house that can aid homeowners with these sorts of assessments, Letson says, adding that binoculars and yardsticks are a good place to start.

Binoculars will enable you to inspect taller trees, while you can use yardsticks to probe the depth of any crack or break.

In many cases, homeowners will want to hire someone to help them assess this damage. In that case, just make sure it’s a qualified arborist or tree professional, Letson advises.

He recommends contacting your local Extension agent for information about qualified professionals or logging onto <http://www.isa-arbor.com/findArborist/findarborist.asp> for a list of qualified arborists in your region.

[Source: Neil Letson, Extension Urban Forestry Coordinator, (334) 240-9360.]

Posted by Jim Langcuster at September 20, 2004 03:36 PM | TrackBack