Managing Storm Damaged Trees 1

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Managing Storm Damaged Trees 1"

Hilary Welch
5 years ago
Views:

2 Managing Storm Damaged Trees 1 Contracting for Storm-Damaged Tree Removal When confronted with storm-damaged trees on yor home or property, yor initial reaction might be to find someone anyone who can deal with the problem immediately or to attempt to tackle the job yorself. While this is a natral reaction, it can lead to poor hiring decisions. Many companies and individals are inexperienced and ill-prepared for this specialized job. Do-it-yorselfers often end p with serios injries. Work by inexperienced people can also lead to needless additional property damage and significant liability. Many of these problems can be avoided by following a few simple gidelines: Do not do anything, otside of providing for personal safety, ntil yo contact yor in srance company. It may have reqired contractors for yo to se or procedres yo mst follow to receive fll coverage. Be very wary of hiring anyone walking the neighborhood and knocking on doors. Don t be bllied into having work done throgh fear or intimidation. This is not a tactic sed by professional tree workers. Shold yo feel threatened by these individals, call yor local police. Have a clear mind and record in writing what yo want the job to look like when it is finished, particlarly with regard to clean p. Be specific abot who is responsible for: Possible frther damage to lawn, shrbs and landscaping, strctres, adjacent and previosly ndamaged trees, fences, driveways, patios, and sidewalks. Chip-spreading or removal and debris handling. Don t allow pine chips to remain on site - they cold attract pine beetles. Secre as many bids as possible at least three, looking for those who specialize in storm damage, and making sre the reqirements of the job and responsibility for any additional damage are nderstood. Check at least three references. Be wary of ot of state contractors. Get written estimates. Ensre that estimates inclde credentials, written scope of work to be performed and all costs. Compare qotes on the basis of services to be performed and costs for each service. Ask for proof of workers compensation and personal and property damage insrance. Always contact the contractor s insrance company. Make sre a policy is valid when the contractor shows p on the job. Never pay any money ntil the job is completely finished. Reqire a written contract. NO EXCEPTIONS! Read contracts careflly before signing. Place any additional reqirements in the written contract and verify that the contract details when work will be started and completed. Demand that work only start once a contract is signed by both parties.

3 Managing Storm Damaged Trees 2 The Clean-p Effort As a homeowner yo may feel the overwhelming need to qickly clean p the storm debris left behind by thnderstorms, tornadoes or hrricanes, so that life can begin to retrn to normal. Unfortnately, as the clean-p begins, many homeowners are ill-prepared to cope with the sheer volme of downed trees, power lines, branches and general debris left in the storm s wake. However, a little planning, preparation and patience will help ease the clean-p effort, particlarly if yo follow these tips: DO NOT TOUCH TREES IN CONTACT WITH POWERLINES - EVER. Notify yor local power provider immediately. Get help - tree trnks and large limbs can be very heavy and their movement shold not be attempted by one person. Do not attempt to remove leaning trees or large branches from roofs. Improper movement cold case additional strctral damage. Be very carefl when moving downed trees and branches laying over one another. They are easily sprng, or may be spporting the weight of other downed material which cold move, sometimes violently, when released. Pile debris where it won t restrict yor movements or the movements of tree crews and yor neighbors as access to debris progresses. Keep trash bags and heavy cord handy. Know how yor local government will deal with debris cleanp. Shold yo place debris by the crb? If so, in what length or size bndle? How soon will they pick p and how freqently? How mch will they take? Determine what part of the debris may be recyclable; most woody debris is compostable and shold be piled separately. Have patience. Storm debris clean-p can take weeks or even months to complete. Chainsaw Safety Dealing with storm-damaged trees on yor property is dangeros and shold not be tackled alone. Consider the following factors before operating a powered chainsaw: Learning how to operate a chainsaw on storm-damaged trees is dangeros and ill-advised. Chainsaw operation while working alone is dangeros and shold never be attempted. Trees and limbs can weigh many tons and their weight distribtion is not easily jdged. Downed, damaged and leaning trees are sally in positions of tension. When weight is removed and they are sprng, they can case nexpected collateral damage. Never operate a chainsaw while standing on or over downed trees or branches. Always be aware and in control of people, particlarly children, in the area in which yo are working. Make sre the area is clear of all persons before starting the chainsaw.

4 Managing Storm Damaged Trees 3 Minimm Personal Safety Eqipment Reqired Historically, more individals are injred by chainsaws than the storm that cased the initial damage. Always se: Leather gloves Fll face shield or safety goggles Hearing protection and hard hat Long sleeved shirt and long pants Over-the-ankle leather boots Chainsaw chaps First aid kit Knowledge of chainsaw operation Patience Which Storm-Damaged Trees to Save When confronted with storm-damaged trnks and branches, normal prning rles may not apply. Often, the extensive prning reqired will limit the likelihood of the tree s srvival, and removal is the best option. It is important to be reasonable abot what can be saved. In many instances, over-zealos prning reslts in removal of viable branches that the tree needs for recovery. Remember that storm damage recovery can take many years, and only trees that were relatively sond before the damage make good candidates for conservation. Different types of trees respond to storm winds differently and have varying rates of sccess in recovering from storm damage.* Those least likely to srvive and needing removal are: Lightning-strck pines and hardwoods with greater than 30% circmference impacted. Pines with more than 30% crown loss Hardwoods with 50% crown loss Trees whose lean has changed Trees with split main stems Trees with greater than 70% nbalanced crowns Trees with twist fractres or cracks in main stems Trees with broken roots * see Dr. Kim Coder s 1995 pblication, Storm Damaged Trees: Prevention and Treatment referenced at the back of this pblication.

Managing Storm Damaged Trees 4 Trees that may have a reasonable chance of srvival are: Trees with more than 50% crown remaining Trees with no loss of major branches with main trnk attachments Trees

final prned shape. Keep in mind that prnings may be reqired over the next few years to bring the tree to a point where it can remain healthy for the long term.

5 Managing Storm Damaged Trees 4 Trees that may have a reasonable chance of srvival are: Trees with more than 50% crown remaining Trees with no loss of major branches with main trnk attachments Trees with less than 30% circmference with mechanical damage Trees with sond root systems When trying to decide if a tree will recover and remain an asset in the landscape, it is important to visalize its final prned shape. Keep in mind that prnings may be reqired over the next few years to bring the tree to a point where it can remain healthy for the long term. The storm recovery process can take years for older trees, and can be very costly and time intensive. If large landscape trees are involved, it is best to conslt with a knowledgeable Certified Arborist and discss realistic soltions for yor trees. Prning by companies or individals who don t have the knowledge or training necessary can leave yo with trees that have an elevated level of risk or may case yo to have trees removed nnecessarily. Do not top yor trees. Topping trees cases major branch failres to occr over time, creating very dangeros sitations in home landscapes. A knowledgable arborist can condct alternative prning regimes. Prning and Maintenance for Damaged Trees It is important that prning of storm-damaged trees take place as soon as possible, remembering to ensre safety at all times. Prne all twisted and split branches back to a lateral branch that is at least three times the diameter of the damaged branch, or prne back to the main trnk. If the main stem is broken, prne back to the next major lateral branch, making sre that branch collars are intact. Shold the nmber of damaged branches redce the live crown to less than 50% (30% for pines) or leave an nbalanced crown, remove the tree. When prning branches, se the three-ct method shown below. Mlch and water the tree s root system. Do not fertilize the tree with high nitrogen fertilizers and reglarly monitor the tree for sbseqent insect damage. (Coder 1995) A. Make partial ct from nderneath B. Make a second ct from above several inches ot C. Complete job with final ct jst otside the branch collar

6 Managing Storm Damaged Trees Sorces for More Information Web Links Georgia Forestry Commission, GaTrees.org U.S.D.A. Forest Service Arbor Day Fondation Pblications Coder, K Storm Wind Loads On Trees. Athens GA. Warnell School of Forestry and Natral Resorces, The University of Georgia. Coder, K Arboritectre: Fondations of Classic Design Prning. Athens GA. Warnell School of Forestry and Natral Resorces, The University of Georgia. Coder, K Storm Damaged Trees: Prevention and Treatment Athens GA. Warnell School of Forestry and Natral Resorces, The University of Georgia. Coder, K Estimating Wind Forces on Tree Crowns. Athens GA. Warnell School of Forestry and Natral Resorces, The University of Georgia. This pblication was prodced by the Sstainable Commnity Forestry Program of the Georgia Forestry Commission and was designed to provide sefl information regarding actions to take following storms that damage trees. Please note there is no sbstitte for the assistance of a knowledgeable tree professional when making major decisions abot tree care. A list of Certified Arborists can be fond at GaTrees.org.

Choosing a Metal Roofing Company P

Choosing a Metal Roofing Company P Checklist A pblication of As yo prepare to prchase a new metal roof for yor home, USE THE CHECKLIST BELOW to gide yo to a contractor who will offer yo the highest qality