Save the tree or replace it?
Snow damaged trees and your landscape restoration
The unusual heavy snowfall in Northern Virginia has brought a large amount of casualties of bent-over and broken trees. The trees in this region are ill-equipped to handle the stress of heavy snowfall and, as a result, many of them have suffered in various ways. Many have broken limbs. Some have toppled over completely. Others have bent to a low posture leaving us to wonder if they might stand up again.
The question most asked of arborists this season has been "can you save it?" The answer is dependent, of course, on the situation. There is a solution for every problem. This one, like most, is answered in terms of economics. When considering the fate of a damaged tree on your property, you should ask yourself how much that particular tree means to you. Its value may be sentimental, planted as a memorial or celebration. Or its value may be strictly utilitarian; it hides the view of my neighbor's unfortunate pension for Canadian hockey and antique tractors.
If the value of the tree is nostalgic, sentimental, or otherwise tied to your human emotions, you should consider it to be a patient in a critical-care situation. Ask your arborist what means are available to rescue the tree from this situation.
But if the tree itself means nothing to you other than the service that it provides to your property, then you should consider replacing it with a specimen that better serves this purpose.
The most typical example of this situation has been rows of Leland Cypress trees planted to separate one back yard from another. Snowfall has left some of these trees bent over, broken, and completely amiss of their purpose. Unless there is some sentimental (human emotional) connection to these trees, they should be removed and replaced with better specimens.
There are better ways to plant trees that will lead to a better result to your property in the long run. Good root depth and a proper canopy structure can be encouraged and supported if the right practices are followed from the start. Consult an arborist to make this happen.
If the tree in question does have sentimental value to you, you should make sure that the intervention is helpful to the tree. Some cabling, bracing, and staking practices are not helpful to trees and can simply lead to bigger problems in the future. When rescuing a tree you should know the science behind the treatment. Ask your arborist to explain his methods, and then check them with the ISA.
Free Arborist Consultation
An ISA certified arborist will contact you within 24 hours.
More About Tree Care
Pro Arbor Revived Trees for Golf Club — Six Red Sunset Maples flanking the entrance of the clubhouse caused great concern that if any of them failed it would destroy the symmetry of the landscape.
Why we do tree canopy inspections — When trees do get attacked by insects, diseases or large trucks, they can become hazardous.
Oak Wilt in Trees — This is a fungal disease that has devastating effects on Oak trees of all varieties and ages.
Tree Roots Invading the Lawn — There is precious little space to grow turf grass and flowers in a suburban lawn. When there is a large tree in the way that task can seem nearly impossible.
Tree Damage from Snow Storms — The fibers on the outside of the bend have been put under tension
Snow damaged trees and your landscape restoration — The question most asked of arborists is, "Can you save it?"
Invasive Weeds and Tree Species — "Usually I'm killing things, but today I get to plant things!"
Dangerous Downed Trees from Storm Damage — In both cases the trees were broken on their main stems causing the tops to fall toward the house.
Carpenter Ants in Oak Tree Trunk — Please do not fill a cavity in a tree with anything.
River Birch Tree with Leaning Problem — The best way to address the issue is to have one of Pro Arbor's certified arborists come out and visually assess the tree's current condition.
Leyland Cypress Trees — I was told that it was either the soil or more likely the weight of the extensive snow we had this past winter that stressed many of the branches.
Tree Care, Circling and Girdling Tree Roots — If this is done before the tree is planted, and the tree is planted properly, then there should be no circling or girdling issues as it grows.
Review of Pro Arbor Tree Service in Arlington, VA — As promised, I'm sharing the information of the company we went ahead with for the removal of our plum tree.
Tree Risk Assessments — Tree risk assessing involves determining the risk that a tree poses to your family, your property, and the other trees around it.
Tree Root Irrigation Bag Trouble — The bags were full, and the trees were mulched with a 3" layer of composted hardwood mulch
Tree Roots Invading Foundation — I have been asked about the possibility of tree roots compromising basement foundations quite a lot lately.
Help/advice on planting new 3 ft trees — Summer is an especially challenging time of year to plant a tree. The heat is very hard on the roots.
Altoona PA Tree Service Company, ProArbor — If this is done before the tree is planted, and the tree is planted properly, then there should be no circling or girdling issues as it grows.
