Checking Your Trees After Flooding

If you have recently been through a significant amount of flooding, and you have trees on your property, there are specific reasons why checking them after a flood is so important. In many areas of the country, places where drought has been the primary concern, there seems to be a shift in the other direction where concerns about water damage to trees is becoming the primary focus. In this article, we will look at why checking your trees after flooding is absolutely imperative, and what you need to look for to make sure that they are healthy and safe.

Problems Created By Drought Conditions

One of the main concerns has to do with the drought conditions which precipitated the flooding that is now occurring. The trees had become very weak, and now with the heavy growth and new branches that many have grown, it is recommended that reducing some of the canopy by pruning the trees should be done as soon as possible. The drought has created a perfect storm for trees to have limb breakage, something that will be much more common due to this dramatic change. There are many trees right now, some of which may be on your property that could prove to be hazardous, and there are certain things to look for when assessing the condition of your trees right now.

Significant Damage From Flooding

Some of the problems caused by extreme flooding, especially trees that are adjacent to rivers, was the removal of soil near the roots and the peeling of the bark from the trees which can lead to significant problems. In other scenarios, where the ground is simply saturated with no damage to the tree, they may begin to lean in one direction or the other, causing a hazardous condition. A certified arborist should be brought into assess the condition of the tree, and how much danger it may pose. They may determine that too much soil has been removed from the roots causing destabilization, or too much has been pushed underneath the tree, later leading to root rot. Other unusual signs to look for are the premature coloring of the leaves.

How To Resolve These Issues

To resolve these issues, there are a few things that can be done. If excessive amounts of dirt have been removed from the roots, this should be replaced. If too much soil is now under the tree, it may affect the critical root systems, which could end up killing the tree several years down the road. This should be removed if possible, and it is also recommended that the soil be aerated and fertilized so as to compensate for the damage that has been done. It is important to get the roots back down to grade so that they do not smother which can cause the tree to die. This is why it is recommended that any damage be resolved as quickly as possible, or it could lead to a situation where the tree must be removed.

To prevent the possibility of a tree becoming hazardous, primarily as a result of broken limbs falling down, or perhaps the entire tree becoming uprooted, these safety measures need to be implemented to restore damage done by flooding to get the tree back to normal. If breakage does begin to occur, with limbs falling off on their own, it is definitely time to consider the best safety options. To prevent the early removal of any trees on your property that have been damaged by flooding, use these strategies to resolve the issues and potentially help your tree survive this type of trauma.