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Chicago Urban Gardening

The day to day experiences of a University of Illinois Extension Urban Horticulture Educator in Chicago, Illinois

June 22, 2011

Repair Storm Damaged Trees with Care

Yesterday wind and rain storms caused damage to trees and shrubs in many parts of Chicagoland. It is important to use proper pruning techniques to help restore these plants' beauty and health, as well as to protect the safety of the home area and workers. University of Illinois Extension Educators suggest the following procedures.

If a tree has been severely damaged, it may not be especially attractive for a few years, but proper pruning can help extend its life, and eventually, its beauty. Remove damaged limbs as promptly as possible to prevent possible personal injury and also to help prevent insect and disease problems from developing on the trees. When doing repair or routine pruning, make the cuts back to the nearest desirable limb or to the branch bark ridge on the trunk. Do not leave stubs of limbs showing after the pruning. Such stubs are good "conduits" to start wood decay and increased insect activity, especially if ragged and torn.

Also, do not "top" trees to remove damaged branches. Use judicious selection and proper pruning methods on only the limbs that need repair. "Topping", or simply trimming off the ends of the branches at the top or sides of the tree, often results in a very unattractive tree with a flush of weak branches sprouting from the pruning cut, called a "witches broom". Such branches are usually weak and have narrow branching angles, which can lead to further breakage. Topping also may not repair the damaged parts of the tree.

For the first year or so after the damage, the tree may produce many unbalanced branches. Remove the weaker or undesirable limbs as they appear. The storm damage and pruning can cause a severe "shock" to the tree. Routine annual pruning should be done when most trees are dormant, but repair pruning needs to be done as soon as feasible.

Professionals may be needed to do the work, especially on large trees. Following storms, some contractors may approach homeowners to do repair work on trees. Homeowners should remember these tips on proper pruning when approached by contractors. Be sure to ask about their pruning and clean-up techniques, experience, insurance, local references and other pertinent information. If possible, soliciting several bids may be appropriate on larger jobs. Find a certified arborist at http://bit.ly/ip6Pzv.

For more information on care of storm damaged trees and general pruning guidelines, check out these on-line fact sheets:

Iowa State Extension: Managing Storm Damaged Trees

Minnesota DNR: Storm damaged trees repair & replacement checklist

Find a Certified Illinois Arborist

Iowa St. Extension: Pruning Trees: Shade , Flowering and Conifer

University of Illinois Extension: Selecting Trees for Your Home

University of Illinois Extension: Illinois Tree Selection

Chicago Botanic Garden: Illinois Best Plants

University of Illinois Extension: How to Plant a Tree

Source: John Church, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, churchj@illinois.edu

Posted by Ron Wolford at 7:41 AM | Permalink |
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June 10, 2011

Lightning Kills

With hot summer temperatures comes the increased risk of thunderstorms. Lightning reportedly kills an average of 67 people each year in the United States.

Duane Friend, University of Illinois Extension natural resources educator, offers these tips to protect yourself and your family from a lightning strike.

  • When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is within 6 miles and is dangerous. Seek shelter immediately.
  • Do not stand under or next to a tree. If you cannot get to an indoor location, crouch in the open, keeping twice as far from a tree as it is tall.
  • If you are with a group of people outdoors, keep several yards distance from each other. Unless well grounded, open pavilions or other small shelters will not provide adequate protection.
  • Lightning can enter a building through a direct strike, through wires or pipes that extend outside the structure, or through electrical, phone, plumbing and radio/television antennas. If you are indoors, avoid contact with corded phones and electrical equipment. Also avoid contact with plumbing, and do not lie or lean on concrete floors and walls. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
  • Typical surge protectors will not protect equipment from a lightning strike. During a storm, appliances and electronic equipment, including antenna connections, should be unplugged to the extent possible.

If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 or other emergency services. Check the victim's breathing and pulse, and begin CPR if necessary and if you are trained to do so. The victim may have burns where lightning entered and left the body, broken bones, loss of hearing or eyesight, and other nervous system damage.

For more information on lightning safety, visit www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm

Photo Credit: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)

Source: Duane Friend, University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources Educator

Posted by Ron Wolford at 3:47 AM | Permalink |
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