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| Photo Credit: Carol Peterson |
| Large trees with multiple trunks, known as codominant stems, are at risk for splitting during storms and causing property damage. |
It’s that time of year when hurricanes are on the minds of everyone living in southern coastal areas. While taking care of your garden isn’t a top priority when a strong storm is bearing down, there are things you can do to protect your home and garden before a hurricane hits.
Safeguarding your garden from strong storms means taking both long-term and last-minute preparations. Long-term preparations are actually a combination of common sense and good tree care. Much of the hurricane damage to homes is caused by trees that either break apart or are uprooted. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, make sure the trees you plant are species that have proved themselves wind-resistant, like live oak, magnolia and bald cypress. These selections are native to – and grow well in – the southeastern US. Where you plant your trees is important, too. Don’t plant large ones too close to buildings, or under or near power lines. And be sure to keep an eye on them as they grow. When it comes to young trees, you’re in a good position to ensure that they’re well-maintained and that they develop good structure with the best possible wind resistance. Regularly inspect any mature or over-mature trees on your property for structural weaknesses, general health and vigor. Large, mature trees – especially ones that are diseased or weak – have great potential to cause damage during a hurricane or tropical storm. While only a certified arborist can accurately assess the hazardous potential of your trees, there are a few obvious defects anyone can spot that need attention before a storm hits: Codominant stems. These occur when a tree’s been topped or if it’s been improperly trained while it was young. Instead of having one strong, central trunk, the tree has two or more. The problem with codominant stems is that they’re not strongly attached to each other in the way that a branch is normally strongly attached to a tree trunk. The bark of each codominant stem becomes embedded between the stems, preventing any attachment between the two trunks. A tree with codominant stems – especially if the stems originate in the lower half of the tree – is at risk for splitting in windy, rainy weather. You can easily correct codominant stems on a young tree by cutting back all but one stem. A large tree with codominant stems, however, is a job for an arborist to assess and correct, if possible.
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