News release issued December 27, 2000, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Ice Storm Damage Photos with Captions
Click on thumbnail photo for full-size version

ARDMORE, Okla.

Captions for ice storm photos:

Photo 775:
Red oaks often hold their leaves well into the cold season. The remaining leaf surfaces allow large quantities of ice to accumulate during an ice storm, which can result in serious damage to the tree. In the example, the tree sustained serious crown damage and several broken branches. The tree will probably survive, although its appearance will be much less pleasing from a landscape perspective.

Photo 777:
Quite a few varieties of pines can be grown in Southern Oklahoma and North Central Texas. The taller, more open-branching varieties are more vulnerable to ice storm damage. The tree on the right should survive without serious effects. The tree on the left could survive but will be misshapen for the rest of its life.

Photo 778:
The dense foliage (needles) of pines and similar evergreens allow extremely heavy amounts of ice to accumulate when rain falls at temperatures at or below freezing. The concentration of needles at the ends of the branches makes breakage even more likely during serious ice storm events.

Photo 782:
Significant amounts of ice can accumulate on pine needles despite their small size.

Photos 783 & 784:
The river birch is a popular landscape tree because of its colorful, paper-like bark. In this example, the crown of the tree has been broken by the weight of accumulated ice. The tree could survive but would be stressed and more susceptible to disease and insect damage. Some experts advise making a clean, sawed cut just below the damaged area, at an angle that would allow water to drain easily. The cut could be "sealed" with pruning paint if desired.

Photo 786:
Many pines bend rather than break from ice storm stresses. In this example, the tree should survive. Prudent measures in the aftermath of the storm would involve reattaching trunk supports at a higher level to ensure the tree returns to an uninterrupted vertical growth pattern.

Photo 787:
Falling limbs can damage not only the host tree but almost anything below: vehicles, power lines, or, in this case, a fence.

Photo 789:
Post oaks, which are among the most common trees in Southern Oklahoma and North Central Texas, can suffer significant ice storm damage even though they lose their leaves in the fall. The tree in the photo will probably survive provided damaged wood is removed. Pruning large, damaged trees back to an aesthetically pleasing shape is better performed by professionals with proper training and equipment.

Photo 792:
Limbs on the windward side of the tree usually pick up more ice than those on the downwind side. In the most recent ice storm, the prevailing winds came from the east and north, causing the heaviest accumulations on the northeast side of the trees, as pictured here.

Photo 793:
Short, stocky pine trees are better adapted to ice storm conditions and will often survive with little or no discernable damage.

Photo 794:
The weight of accumulated ice can uproot trees. In this case, a small redbud falls victim to ice, saturated soil, a persistent wind, and an immature root system.

Photo 795:
The water oak pictured here is one of several oak varieties that hold their leaves into or through the winter season. More leaves mean more surface area for ice build-up, creating the potential for serious ice storm damage.

Photo 796:
Some trees, such as these pines, may be so severely damaged by ice that saving them is impossible or impractical.

Photo 801:
The large twisted branch on this peach tree is damaged beyond repair and should be removed. Peach trees are fast growing and can tolerate extensive pruning, so damage from ice is usually not a long-term problem if only a small percentage of branches are broken or twisted.

Photo 803:
An inch-thick column of ice coats a small peach tree twig. The ice itself will not damage the tree unless branches break or twist. In fact, ice actually serves as in insulator.

Photo 804:
A relatively young plum tree is uprooted from the combined effects of ice, wind and heavy rainfall.

Information on the Foundation can be found on-line at www.noble.org.

###

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, check out the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release