The Impact of Edmonton’s Windstorms On Urban Trees
If you have lived in Edmonton for a long time, you know how harsh the winters can be and how windy the spring gets. It’s like clockwork, and while you might have acclimated to it, your trees still haven’t and never will without the proper care during these extreme days of heavy winds. Urban trees are often overlooked because you just naturally assume that your trees can withstand everything that the unpredictable Edmonton weather can throw at them. But just like you, your trees need a layer of protection and some extra care during these windy months.
Trusty Tree Services is here to walk you through everything you need to know about how to protect your trees when Mother Nature feels like shaking things up again. In this blog, we will fill you in on all the need-to-know information, like how the wind actually impacts your trees and how you can protect them from future harm. We promise that after this, you will become an expert like our Edmonton arborists!
How a Wind Storm Can Affect Urban Trees
Every tree is different, and how it can handle a windstorm is entirely up to a number of factors, such as how strong the branches are, whether the tree is mature or not, and whether the tree has been properly prepared for a potentially severe windstorm.
Broken Branches
This is the first thing that property owners and those living around urban trees will consider when the Alberta climate shifts and wind rolls in. Heavy winds can cause branches to snap and break, and the tree can also lose its limbs, which can be a hazard to the overall health of the tree. Birch trees are a popular choice for trees in some neighbourhoods, and while they look amazing, they are susceptible to breakage because they have softer wood. Any tree with soft wood, heavy branches, or an asymmetrical canopy is at risk during these storms.
Uprooting
If a tree has shallow roots, it is likely that when a strong wind, which Edmonton residents know can surpass 50 km/h, can easily remove the tree’s roots from the ground, causing uprooting. Urban trees often face these issues because of the limited root space due to sidewalks, buildings, and roads. The last thing that any business or residence near urban trees like this is to have damage caused because the tree has essentially come out of the ground. When this happens, a tree removal will likely be necessary.
Defoliation
The removal of foliage can be expected during those annually occurring windstorms. The City of Edmonton is no stranger to severe storms blowing around leaves and removing them from the trees. While you might not think this is an issue, when the leaves are not naturally shedding on their own, the tree may face photosynthesis issues, making it more likely to be attacked by diseases and pests. Animals have an easier time eating from the tree when it’s at risk.
These are the three most common disasters that can happen to a tree and be a cause for concern when a hazardous windstorm hits the city. Homeowners who live close to urban trees might know this information well because they have been exposed to it during their time in Edmonton.
What Should I Do After a Windstorm Has Damaged My Trees?
The first thing you will want to do is check your home for property damage, and also do an assessment of the trees that you have planted. Take a look at the uprooting and broken branches and approximately how much foliage was lost in the storm, if any at all. If you notice a lot of damage to your tree, you will want to contact Trusty Tree Services to provide you with storm damage services. Our team will see to it that we prune any broken branches to ensure that your tree won’t be affected by the disease, and if there is any uprooting, we will assess it to see what type of risk it poses and if we need to do an immediate removal because of safety concerns.
After all of that, our team will come and ensure the tree’s health if we can save it. We will check to make sure that the tree is getting enough water and watch for pests and any other factors that might impact the overall well-being of the tree.
How to Prevent Trees From Falling During An Edmonton Windstorm?
While you can’t prevent a tree from being impacted by our intense weather here in Canada or the wind that flows into Edmonton, you can do some maintenance to prevent your tree from being as impacted.
If you are looking to plant a tree, make sure that you choose a species that won’t be as impacted by storms. Oak, ash, and elm trees are all great options with harder wood, making them more resilient to wind and other harmful storms. Another thing to consider when planting is that the roots have enough space to grow.
Regular maintenance of your tree, like pruning, can ensure that the branches of your tree are less likely to snap off during a particularly windy day. If you are unfamiliar with pruning or are new to taking care of trees, Trusty Tree Services is always happy to help you with this step.
The last thing you can do, especially if you have an older tree or one likely to face breakages or uprooting during a storm, is use a cable or bracing to support the tree. However, you will want to consult a Trusty Tree Services team member to know exactly how and where to place any structural supports, as it could damage the tree.
You can now feel more secure and know a little more about storm damage, how it can impact your tree, and even some ways to prevent it.
You’re All Set!
Edmonton’s windstorms are nothing to stress over now that you know more about how a windstorm can impact your trees and what you can do to mitigate the issues at hand. If you ever need any help with your trees, you can count on the Trusty Tree Services team to give you dependable and quality help. Call us today!