Frozen trees
Amy Jordan
Originally published 01:44 p.m., December 13, 2007
Updated 01:44 p.m., December 13, 2007
Although most of Lyon County fared better than much of the state in terms of ice damage, the impact is still significant.
Many residents have been without power, roads and sidewalks have been treacherous, and some trees have failed due to ice accumulation.
Broken branches not only damage the tree itself, but damage can occur to structures or vehicles as well if the limbs happen to fall on them.
Residents should be aware of the potential danger associated with storm recovery. Fallen power lines and hanging limbs pose a substantial threat and should be approached with the utmost caution. Check for fallen utility wires, or ones that have limbs touching them. Let the power company complete their repairs before doing any clean-up or pruning.
Avoid knocking ice off of plants. Let the ice melt naturally to avoid more damage that what might otherwise occur. Also avoid walking on icy ground to pick up branches. Once the ice has melted, assess the damage. Look for hanging branches that could be dangerous. These should be safely removed before doing any more clean-up.
After dangerous branches have been removed, prune other broken branches back to the next larger branch or to the trunk. Make the cut at the collar area, which is the transition area between the branch and the trunk. By cutting at the collar, branch tissue is able to more easily grow over the wound. Leaving stubs or making a large, flush cut prevents the wound from sealing quickly, where it is susceptible to disease and decay.
A large branch should be removed by making three separate cuts (see image) to avoid tearing the bark. Do not “top” trees, which involves cutting large limbs back to oversized stubs. This ruins the structure of the tree, in addition to causing many more problems.
Decide whether it is feasible to save a tree. A tree bent over by the ice load may return to its natural position once the ice has melted. Also, new growth may reestablish the structure of a damaged tree. If the bark has been split so the cambium is exposed or the main trunk split, however, the tree will probably not survive and should be removed. If there are so many broken limbs that the form of the tree is destroyed, replacement will be the best option.
Consider contacting an arborist certified by the Kansas Arborists Association or the International Society of Arboriculture to do major pruning and to make the recommendation as to whether or not the damage is significant enough to warrant complete removal of the tree.
When replacing trees, carefully consider plant selection. Some species such as Siberian elm, silver maple and ‘Bradford’ pear have inherent weaknesses which predispose them to damage. Other factors that may contribute to damage from storms include: those that have never been pruned; those that are retaining seed pods or leaves which increases the surface area for ice accumulation (including evergreens); those with a twiggy, fine textured branching habit; or old, infirm, diseased, decayed, or insect infested trees.
Only plant small trees under power lines. There are many species of trees that mature at 30 feet or less that would perform well and not compete with power lines, such as small stature crabapples, redbud, kousa dogwood, and amur maple. Initially planting a tree that matures at 20 to 30 feet reduces the need for trimming around the lines and damage to power lines during a storm.