Avoid damage to property with regular tree assessment

In western Nebraska, we seem to get more than our fair share of wind, and this year seems to be a particularly active one. 

Like everything else in nature, wind has a purpose. In the biosphere experiment, a human-made enclosed and windless environment, it was discovered that the absence of wind resulted in weaker trees. Resisting the wind and storms ensure that trees gain the strength they need to support their branches as they age.

Wind is also a cleanup mechanism, stripping dead branches off of trees and letting them fall to the ground where decomposition occurs, returning nutrients to the soil.

That is great in a forest setting, but homeowners with large trees in close proximity to property need to be vigilant in assessing their trees for branches that could pose a threat to property and people.

The recent wind on Sunday night resulted in branches on the ground and at least one large Grant tree snapped off at the trunk. This illustrates how important it is to identify what branches need to be trimmed, or aging trees taken down.

According to tree board president Jon Forney, signs are usually evident before catastrophe strikes. “Most of what you should look for after a storm are things you should look at beforehand as well,” he said, “such as broken or dead branches, and those too close to wires.”

“After a storm or wind event, look for twisted trunks which can lead to cracks, peeling bark, and ‘hangers,’ branches that have broken but not released from the tree.”

Fast growing trees, such as cottonwood and poplar are more prone to failure, he added. Slow-growing and longer lived trees such as oak and linden can more easily withstand the forces of nature, and are good choices when considering what to plant in the yard.