Tree Maintenance & Care: Steps to Take Before a Storm

11/15/2017 (Permalink)

Winter damage can become worse over time if you don’t take care of it in a timely way.

Trees Can Pose a Safety Hazard to Your New Castle Home If They Are Not Properly Inspected and Maintained

Trees can present a particularly significant danger during a storm. Wind, lightning, snow and ice can all transform a tranquil row of trees into an imminent threat to your property. Proper tree maintenance involves more than pruning and trimming overgrown branches. These are some of the key steps you can take to protect your trees and prevent them from becoming a safety hazard.

Steps to Take Before a Storm

• Remove any dead trees on your property.
• Maintain the health of trees through timely watering, proper fertilization and protection from soil compaction. Healthy trees will be able to better adapt to changes in the environment and remain firm in the wind.
• Regularly prune dead or broken limbs to help trees maintain their structural integrity.
• Remove or treat pest problems immediately to minimize potential damage to trees.

Six Signs to Monitor

Make safety a priority when performing maintenance on your trees. Contact a professional tree-care service if you are not able to safely prune or remove trees in your yard.

Consult with a professional if the trees in your yard display any of the following characteristics:

• Cracks in the trunk or major limbs.
• Signs of hollowing and decay.
• Mushrooms growing from the bark.
• Significant leaning to one side.
• Limbs in contact with power lines.
• Branches hanging over your house.

Even the healthiest and strongest of trees will break under the weight of ice. Broken tree limbs account for much of the storm damage from icy weather in New Castle County. A tree limb encased in a block of ice can weigh hundreds of pounds and can easily crash through roofs and even crush a car.

Heavy snow and high winds can knock down tree limbs, taking out power lines, damaging siding, and generally making your landscaping look a mess. Getting your trees trimmed can help prevent this type of damage, as well as keep your trees healthy and looking great.

Winter damage can become worse over time if you don’t take care of it in a timely way. Always make sure to inspect your home in both the fall and in the spring to repair any damage that could affect your home’s condition. By taking care of minor issues before winter, you can help prevent larger ones, while taking care of any damage after the cold weather has passed can help your home be ready for anything.

To learn more about Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration  click here

Call SERVPRO of Bear/New Castle, DE at (302) 392-6000 for all your cleaning, water damage, fire damage and mold remediation needs!