Trees have an uncanny
ability to recover from storm damage. Oftentimes, storms leave trees looking
bare and deflated, but these looks can be deceiving. Ask yourself these questions before you assume your storm-damaged tree can’t be saved.
Can
My Tree be Saved?
Other
than the storm damage, is the tree basically healthy and
vigorous?
If the tree is
basically healthy, it is not creating a hazard and it did not suffer major
structural damage, it generally will recover if
first aid measures are applied
immediately after the storm.
Are major limbs broken?
The larger a broken limb is, the harder it will be
for the tree to recover from the damage. If a majority of the main branches are
gone, the tree may have little chance of surviving.
Has the leader (main upward-trending
branch) been lost?
In species
where a leader is important to upward growth or desirable appearance, it may
be a judgment call. The tree may live without its leader, but at best would
be a stunted or deformed version of its former self.
Is at least 50 percent of the tree’s
crown (branches and leaves) still intact?
This
is a good rule of thumb for tree survivability. A tree with less than half its
branches remaining may not be able to produce enough foliage to nourish the
tree through another season.
How big are the wounds where branches have
been broken or bark has been damaged?
The
larger the wound is in relation to the size of the limb, the less likely it is
to heal, leaving the tree vulnerable to disease and pests. A two- to three-inch
wound on a 12-inch diameter limb will seal over with new bark within a couple
of years.
Are there
remaining branches that can form a new branch structure?
The remaining limbs will grow more vigorously as
the tree tries to replace its missing foliage. Look to see if branches are in
place that can eventually fill out the tree’s appearance.
Is the tree of a desirable species for its
location?
If the tree is in
the wrong location (such as a potentially tall tree beneath a power line) or
an undesirable species for the property (messy fruit, etc.), then it may be
best to remove it now.
What if my tree has significant bark
loss?
Bark loss should be
addressed immediately.
This
article has information on how one tree was successfully treated for bark
loss. A full information sheet is coming soon.
What
Next?
Now that you’ve
assessed your tree, what category does it fall into? Is it a keeper? Should you
wait and see if it will recover? Or is it already time to say goodbye? In
general, the answer as to what to do about a particular tree will fall into one
of three categories.
It’s a
Keeper
If damage is
relatively slight, you can prune broken branches, repair torn bark or rough
edges around the wounds and let the tree begin to repair itself.
 | An
Easy Call:
A mature shade tree can usually survive the loss of
one major limb. The broken branch should be pruned back to the trunk. In the
months to follow, large wounds should be closely monitored for signs of
decay. |
 | Minor
Damage:
Although the tree has been damaged, enough strong limbs
may remain on a basically healthy tree to make saving it possible. |
 | Too
Young to Die:
Young trees can sustain quite a bit of damage and
still recover quickly. If the leader is intact and the structure for future
branching remains, remove the broken branches and let the tree close over the
wounds and recover itself. |
Wait and See
If
a valuable tree appears to be a borderline case, resist the temptation to rush
through the process and just cut the tree down. Remember, time is on your side.
Carefully prune broken branches and then give the tree some time to recover. A
final decision can be made later.
 | Easy Does It:
Resist the temptation to prune too heavily. Remember that the tree will need
all the foliage it can produce in order to make it through the next growing
season. Remove only the damaged limbs, wait and see what happens.
|
 | Hold Off:
A
healthy mature tree can recover even when several major limbs are damaged. With
large trees, a professional
arborist should be brought in to assess damage on a borderline situation,
and to safely accomplish needed pruning and branch removal.
|
Say Goodbye
Some
trees simply can't be saved or they're not worth saving. If the tree already
has been weakened by disease, if the trunk is split or more than 50 percent
of its leaves are gone, then the tree likely won't make it.
 | Tree Tragedy:
This otherwise healthy young tree has lost too much of its crown—the leafy
head that is vital for survival. It will probably not be able to grow enough
new branches and leaves to provide needed nourishment, and will never be able
to regain its former beautiful shape.
|
 | Hopeless Case:
About all that’s left of this tree is its trunk. The few remaining branches
can’t provide enough foliage to enable the tree to make it through another
growing season.
|
 | Farewell to a
Friend:
A rotten inner core in the trunk or structural weakness
in branching patterns can cause a split trunk—the tree equivalent of a heart
attack. The wounds are too large to ever mend, and the tree has lost its sap
lifeline between roots and leaves. This tree is all but dead.
|
Some of your trees may have damage that’s too
close to call. Or you may have hidden damage. In these cases, a tree
professional may be needed to help you decide what to do. Don't hire just
anyone who shows up at your door after a storm; look for ISA
Certified
Arborists.
Artwork provided by
Arbor Day Foundation Illustrations.