If you've recently had a big windstorm that came through your area and hit your property, chances are you're dealing with some damaged trees. Before you take any steps to clean up your property and repair your trees, make sure you know exactly what you're doing!
Don't try to do all the work by yourself: If you have large limbs that are dangling from a tree, or if removing damaged limbs from a tree is going to require getting up high, dealing with wires or performing any chainsaw work over your head, you should call a team of professionals out to get the job done instead. The first step is to know exactly what you are and are not capable of doing by yourself, and safety is always the first priority in these situations.
Make sure you're taking all the proper safety precautions: If you are doing some work on your trees, make sure you're doing it safely. Look up and down to check out the state of the tree, and keep an eye out for any power lines that have fallen or branches that look like they could potentially fall. Stay away from any utility lines, as these lines can become electrically charged if they have fallen or broken off. Never go underneath hanging, broken limbs that are caught in overhead branches, as you never know when a gust of wind could push them out. And make sure to leave the chainsaw operation to the professionals, unless you are truly experienced in using the tool.
Remove broken branches still attached: Many property owners are able to remove smaller-sized broken tree limbs by themselves, if it doesn't require much climbing. This will help minimize the risk of rot getting into the area surrounding the tree wound. Prune these branches where they join into larger ones. Any larger branches that are broken should be dealt with by professionals.
Fix up torn bark: Torn bark can hurt the tree's appearance and create great hiding places for insects and pests. Use a sharp knife or a chisel to carefully smooth out the ragged edges of any spots where bark has been torn away. Try not to expose any of the green inner bark if possible.
Don't over-prune or -cut: You don't need to make your tree look perfect. They will heal over time. You should also make sure to avoid "topping," which is cutting back main branches down to their stubs. This is one of the worst things you can do for the long-term health of a tree. Stubs usually grow back with a lot of weak branches that are going to ultimately be more likely to blow off or break when a new storm comes through.
Tree Trimmers has been providing high quality tree service for over a decade. For more information about how to proceed after your trees have suffered storm damage, contact our tree service in Brainerd, MN.