A common question of homeowners after a storm is, "Will my tree survive?" This is a difficult question to answer because it is affected by several factors of the tree's former and current condition. However, this website is more concerned with
"Will my tree survive and thrive?"
"Can my tree's problems be dealt with so that the tree will continue to grow and be healthy?"
This is what we mean by
thrive: alive, growing, healthy and structurally sound.
| Alive - Most trees will still be alive even after violent storms like tornadoes and hurricanes. |
Healthy - Is your tree healthy?
- Does the tree have enough bark to ward off most insects and diseases?
- Are enough branches or roots damaged that substantial amounts of wood are exposed?
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Growing - Does the tree have sufficient branches and roots to photosynthesize and to absorb water?
- If 25% or less of either the branches or the roots are damaged, the tree should continue to grow.
- Check for all of the damaged branches or roots being on a single side. For instance, if all of the broken branches are on one side of the tree, it will continue to grow but could be very lopsided.
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Structurally sound - Are the trunk and roots strong enough to hold up the tree?
- Are the branches firmly attached and well distributed around the trunk?
- Are there enough roots to absorb water, nutrients and oxygen for the tree?
- Will the roots help support the tree?
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If you can't answer yes to all of the above questions, you will need to consider seriously whether you want to keep your tree, or have it removed and another tree planted in its place. Whether the tree is removed because it is structurally unsound or because it's an eye-sore, your time and money is better spent on a tree that will thrive than on one that won't.
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