Recovering An Extremely Damaged Tree

Posted on: 20 May 2015

Whether there's been an earthquake, fire, flood or another natural disaster, one consequence is often damage to your trees. It can be difficult to figure out what to do in this situation -- do you just cut down the tree? Do you leave it alone to grow? It's usually best to try to recover the tree if you can rather than simply letting nature take its course. A dead tree can be incredibly dangerous, and trees can often bounce back from serious damage. 

Determine Its Status

Before you do anything, you need to figure out whether the tree is even still alive. If the disaster has just occurred, it may be difficult to tell. A dead tree will slowly wilt -- its leaves will get dry and hang limply but will not fall off. If you peel the bark on the tree, it will be dry rather than moist -- and if you break off a tree branch, it will be dry in the center. If the tree still has moisture and the leaves and new stems are still green, it may have a chance at survival.

Brace the Tree If Necessary

Smaller trees may have been partially uprooted by the disaster. Make sure to cover the roots with soil and use a tree brace if necessary. Tree braces can be found at hardware stores and are circular rings that go around the tree and attach to stakes. You can remove the brace once the tree's roots have recovered.

Cut Off Any Dead Branches

Any dead material on the tree should be cut off. Not only does it pose a safety hazard, but it could also be unnecessarily taxing for the tree to have to support material that is no longer nourishing it. 

Water and Fertilize It

Keep your tree properly watered and fertilized as it recovers. Most trees are very hardy and you should be able to see recovery within a couple of weeks. If you don't see any positive signs or if the tree gets worse, it's likely that the tree is not going to recover.

If your tree does die, it's important to get it removed as soon as possible by a professional tree removal service. It can be very dangerous to try to remove a tree on your own, but it's equally as dangerous to leave it there. Dead trees will fall at unpredictable times and can also drop branches, injuring people around or causing significant property damage. Don't forget that many landscapers will also be able to help you recover your tree if it's still alive but struggling.

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identifying issues with your trees

Do you know how to identify a sick or troublesome tree? Are there trees that hang over your home? Do you have trees that aren't quite as beautiful as they once were? I have created my blog to help as many people as possible identify and resolve problems with trees. Whether your tree is sick and needs attention, or if the tree is hanging over your home, causing roofing problems, you can learn a lot about what course of action to take by visiting my blog. Hopefully, you can find all of the information you need to save your trees and know when it is time to take them down.