Some of Hurricane Irma’s most affected inhabitants of Florida were trees.
Some trees were snapped. Some twisted out of the ground. Some were left leaning with exposed roots, or were stripped of large limbs and foliage.
The good news is that not all of the damaged trees must be removed.
The test is whether they are a structural hazard or if they have sustained too much damage.
It’s impossible to make a broad statement that would apply to every single situation.
So, if you have a tree that could damage structures or ones that possibly pose a threat to humans, pets or livestock, consider enlisting the help of a certified arborist to help you make decisions about the best course of action.
You can go to TreesAreGood.com to find certified arborists in your area.
Many species of trees can survive damage, but it’s the younger, smaller trees that have the best chance.
The good news is that in situations where you don’t believe safety is an issue, you may be able to restore some damaged trees back to good health.
Trees that might be restorable include those without exposed roots or ones that have not been lifted from the soil; and ones without cracks in major limbs and certainly not in the trunk.
Trees that were strong and healthy prior to the storm are most likely the best candidates for restoration.
Trees with decay or bark inclusions — weak areas between multiple trunks and stems — are not good candidates for restoration. Even if these weakened trees weren’t visibly affected by Hurricane Irma winds, they are living on borrowed time. Consider consulting an arborist about removal.
Here are some general ways to restore salvageable trees back to good health after a storm:
- Trees with only small broken branches: Many healthy trees can lose as much as three-quarters of their smaller branches and leaves, and still recover. If broken branches are less than 4 inches in diameter, you can easily prune them off and the plant should bounce back. Prune them sooner, rather than later, to prevent them from falling and causing damage, or decaying and causing potential disease in the tree.
- Trees with defoliated or damaged leaves: Trees that lose leaves usually will not die. You will likely see new foliage soon, and if not now, by spring.
- Trees flooded with saltwater should be irrigated with fresh water as soon as possible, to rinse salts beyond the root zone.
- Trees with large broken limbs: Depending on the tree species, some trees can lose a major limb and regain good health. In general, younger, smaller trees that lose a major branch are more apt to survive than old, large trees. Prune off jagged edges from broken branches using proper pruning practices (call the UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office for instructions or, for more specific information, visit edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_tree_pruning.
- Trees sitting in water: Some species of trees are capable of withstanding flooding, but only for short periods of time. Trees with flooded roots for more than a few days will most likely not survive with a few notable exceptions, such as: pond/bald cypress, red maple, sweet gum and river birch. Roots need oxygen and flooded roots are smothered roots. It’s best to see if the tree survives the flood then remove it later when it becomes apparent that the tree has not survived. If it doesn’t survive, removal and replanting with a more suitable species for that area might be recommended.
Inspect the canopy of all trees, even if they seem stable. Look for broken, dead and hanging branches that might fall later on. Remove those carefully using proper pruning practices and sanitized equipment. Visit tinyurl.com/mwyusyt for information on proper equipment sanitization.
- Trees that are leaning: Small trees, with trunks less than 4 inches in diameter, that were recently planted, can be replanted and staked if they fell over because of Hurricane Irma. If the root ball is exposed, keep it moist and replant as soon as possible. Prune off any broken roots; place the tree back in the hole, making sure it’s upright, then backfill the hole with the same soil you removed from that hole. Stake it, adjust the stakes often, and remove them when the tree is stable. Water the root ball, with a hose, at least three times a week for the next couple of months.
Larger diameter trees that are leaning, especially those with exposed roots, will most likely have too much root damage to survive. Trying to reset and stake larger leaning or uprooted trees is not advised.
Be patient, and give damaged trees a year to recover. If the tree does not have new growth by the following spring, most likely it’s not going to survive, and you should consider removal.
Palms are different; they are not built like oaks, maples, crape myrtles, etc. They are actually not considered “trees” at all, since they are more closely related to the grasses and corn. They grow much like grasses. The growing portion of these plants is at the very top at the base of the fronds, in an area called the heart. If you find that the heart has broken out of a palm, that palm should be removed. It will not survive or regrow. If the heart is intact, but you find bent fronds covering the heart, they can be removed so they don’t keep the bud from growing. Broken or hanging fronds can be dangerous and should be removed. If you have hanging fronds, only when they are completely brown, should they be removed. Yellow fronds are still supplying the plant with food, so wait to remove those, until the entire frond is brown.
Properly pruned palms and trees are excellent wind breaks around buildings. They diminish the wind and they take the brunt of the storm force winds. Keep your trees healthy, and remove the dangerous or dead ones before the storm by consulting with a certified arborist, sooner rather than later. Take care your trees and palms before and after the storm, and they’ll take care of you.
By Whitney C. Elmore and Jim Moll
Dr. Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III. Jim Moll is Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program Coordinator.
Published September 20, 2017
