Patience is key when dealing with storm-damaged trees
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

A typical spring in Western New York is abundantly green as trees bud and flourish.

This year residents will need to play a waiting game to see if the trees on their property survived the October 2006 storm.

Ken Re of Russell's Tree and Shrub Farm said residents need to be patient.

"Some trees damaged in the October storm may not leaf out initially, but once they recover from the shock of the storm, they may leaf out later," he said.

However, it's important to know that some trees will leaf out as usual, but may die later because its remaining foliage was not sufficient to sustain the tree.

Residents can reduce the chances of a tree blooming, then dying, by not over pruning it, Re said.

"Residents should remove the jagged or rough branches, but don't over prune. The plant needs leaf material to produce food. Without enough branches that won't happen," he said.

Re added that between the branches that were broken off and those cut by the owners, an otherwise healthy tree could end up decaying.

"It's better to wait and do pruning and shaping over a longer period of time," he said.

Anyone who believes he or she can't assess the damage is encouraged to obtain the assistance of a certified arborist, Re said.

Located at 9800 Transit Road between North French and Stahley roads in East Amherst, Russell's Tree and Shrub Farm has produced an informational sheet for customers.

"We started to realize that with spring coming everyone would see the damage from October and would be asking how to treat the trees," he said.

He offers the following tips to assess tree damage:

+ Severity of damage - consider whether the damage is superficial, can be treated or is beyond repair. The most severe damage occurs when the main stem or trunk of the tree splits or is broken. Generally, if a tree has lost more than 50 percent of its branching structure, the probability of future survival is poor. Trees do not heal wounds; they only grow over them and seal them off. Wounds cause structural weakness, but there's not much that can be done to strengthen them.

+ Is the tree bending? The return of a tree to an upright position will depend on the degree of the bend and length of time the tree has remained in that position. Individual tops, or entire trees, can sometimes be staked to hasten recovery. However, results can be mixed.

+ Has the tree blown over? For small to medium sized trees, with at least 50 percent of the root system still in the ground, it may be possible to reset and brace the tree with guy wires.

+ Are the branches broken? This is the least damaging of the challenges that will be faced, especially when the break occurs away from the main stem or trunk. The higher the break and the smaller the diameter of the break point, the higher probability for recovery. Broken branches generally do not affect tree survival unless more than 50 percent of the branch structure is involved. Broken branches need maintenance so that they do not pose a hazard and to reduce the risk of decaying organisms entering the wound.

Re also suggested tips for moderate pruning, which begins with trimming as little as possible. Reshaping could take several seasons.

Broken large branches should be cut back to either a main limb or to the trunk - but not flush, instead cut outside the collar.

Safety is the most important step when pruning a tree. Re said that if a tree is large or the necessary work is way above ground level, call a qualified arborist.

Finally, when deciding to replace damaged trees and shrubs, be sure to consult a nursery for suggestions and planting information.

"Be prepared to deal with possible shortages of some plant materials this year," the fact sheet from Russell's stated.

Questions can be directed to Russell's Tree and Shrub Farm at 689-6764.

e-mail: jfinch@beenews.com