ORLANDO, Fla. – A lookover of your home and property is a vital part of hurricane preparations and that includes checking on the health of your trees. Although your oak trees might look heathy and stable on the outside, those same trees could actually be posing a bigger risk to your home than you think.
These type of trees have been nicknamed “zombie trees.” These are trees that are dying inside due to old age or damage from storms or even insects.
I spoke with Shelby McCullough, a certified arborist and owner of McCullough Tree Service, to find out how to identify those “zombie trees” and what we can do to lower the risk with these trees during a storm.
Steps to spot ‘zombie trees:’
Step 1: CHECK THE TREE SKIRT
Analyzing the health of your tree starts from the bottom. You can do this by finding a flare at the base of the trunk. You don’t want to see just the tree trunk with the flare tucked underground. Shelby says trees with hidden flares are susceptible to decay and insects.
“So what we will do is pull the dirt back and inspect, and then if we need to address an issue we can. Sometimes we pull it back an realize the whole root system is decayed and the tree has got to go,” Shelby said.
Step 2: CHECK THE STRUCTURE
“If you see a structure codominance where there are two trunks similar in size and are close to the base or up in the top of the tree. We call that the aspect ratio - that means the tree has a likelihood of splitting at that place,” Shelby says.
To eliminate this from happening, Shelby tells me using tree companies can help by adding wire to secure branches or trimming branches back to help eliminate weight.
Step 3: CHECK THE CROWN
Stand back and take a good look at the crown and by crown we mean the canopy. If the tips of the branches are missing leaves, this means nutrients aren’t being delivered throughout the entire tree.
“Usually if a tree starts to decline, it will start to die back in the very tips.” Shelby said.
Step 4: DON’T OVER PRUNE
As we gear up for hurricane season, trimming your trees well before a storm threatens is important while also making sure you don’t over prune!
“Everyone would say, ‘Oh you want the wind to pass by through the trees you don’t want the tree to be like a sail. But it’s actually the opposite. If it’s a sail it could hold up against the wind as a collective tree rather than every limb being a man for itself,” Shelby explained.
It is important to remember, that just because your tree might look to be a “zombie tree,” it doesn’t mean it needs to be removed. Shelby recommends reaching out to a reliable tree company for help. They can guide you with a risk assessment on whether removal is necessary or preventative care could eliminate the risk of collapse.
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