ARDMORE, Okla. – Many residents of Southern Oklahoma and North Central Texas will spend the next several days or perhaps weeks cleaning up fallen limbs and branches from one of the worst ice storms in decades.

Large amounts of rain totaling several inches in many areas – combined with temperatures at or below freezing for more than 48 hours – damaged multiple millions of trees across the region. From Wichita Falls to Broken Bow, from Dallas to Oklahoma City, homeowners, landscapers, pecan producers, ranchers and many others face similar decisions on how to deal with damaged trees.

The decision-making process boils down to three basic options, according to Noble Foundation horticulturists Scott Landgraf, Steve Upson and Dooly Barlow: Do nothing, treat the damage to minimize long-term impact on the tree; or remove the tree and replant, if desired.

Trees with little or no apparent damage
For trees with little on no limb breakage, the best bet might be to leave the trees alone. Chances are excellent that they will survive. A coating of ice in and of itself doesn't harm most trees, unless the added weight breaks the limbs. Ice can actually serve as an insulator, keeping the branches at around 32 degrees even if the air temperature drops below that point.

Bent trees with little or no apparent breakage
Trees that are bent but not visibly broken are excellent candidates for recovery (provided the trunk is not cracked or split), but might need a little extra care, especially if aesthetics are important.

Many pines, for example, bend rather than break, Foundation horticulturists explained. A young pine tree, for example, could be manually straightened once the ice melts and supports (guide wires) could be attached far enough up the trunk to make sure the tree's straight vertical growth isn't interrupted.

Trees with a few broken limbs
Trees with a relatively small percentage of missing limbs also stand an excellent chance of recovery. But as the percentage of damaged or broken limbs increases, so does stress on the tree. And increased stress can make the tree more vulnerable to diseases or insect damage.

Deciding if and how to treat a tree with broken limbs could depend upon the location and extent of the damage. Broken, cracked, or badly twisted limbs should be removed as close as possible to their points of origin; in other words, don't leave "stubs" if at all possible. Stubs can serve as a point of entry for certain diseases and insect pests.

Heavy, dangling limbs on large trees present a potential threat to people and property beneath and are best removed by professionals.

Chances of disease or insect infestation can be reduced by making a smooth cut through each damaged branch below the break at an angle that allows water to drain. An optional application of pruning paint or other suitable sealant can sometimes help the tree heal itself and prevent further damage.

Trees with a broken crown and/or major limb damage
If a large part of the tree's top (crown) is broken off, the tree might be a candidate for removal and replacement, especially if the appearance of the tree is a major consideration, since it might never regain its original symmetry. Trees stripped of more than half of their major branches also should be considered for removal. Such trees might survive, but probably at the expense of a shortened life span as well as an odd shape or growth pattern.

If the breakage of a large branch exposes a cavity (or hollow) within that branch or the main trunk – or if there is evidence of disease in the heartwood of the tree – it would be prudent to go ahead and remove the tree to prevent future headaches.

Even if a damaged tree still appears to be healthy, a person might want to plant a new tree to replace it. A tree that is heavily stressed from this type of damage could have a short life span. Planting a new tree – even if the old one is left in place – might be a wise option, according to Foundation horticulturists.

In many cases homeowner's policies will cover the removal of trees or branches that fall onto covered structures as well as any damages to the buildings themselves. But coverage varies from company to company, so property owners should contact their agents for specific information.

Uprooted trees
For small, uprooted trees with most of the root ball still intact, the best bet is to carefully restore the tree to its original position and brace the trunk. Treat with root stimulator in spring and keep it well watered and fertilized if possible. Large uprooted trees should be removed, since most of the root system is probably separated from the trunk.

Factors that influence ice storm damage to trees
The amount of damage a tree sustains is the result of several factors, including the size and type of tree and how it has been trained, maintained and/or pruned.

A tree with a strong architecture is naturally able to resist wind and ice damage.

Another factor in how much damage a tree sustains is the "twig density," that is, the number of small branches that serve as focal points for ice to accumulate. Evergreens and deciduous trees that "hold" their leaves into or through the winter season are likewise highly susceptible to ice storm damage.

Water oaks, for example, often keep their leaves into the cold season, Foundation horticulturists said. The remaining leaf surfaces allow large quantities of ice to accumulate during an ice storm, which can result in serious damage to the tree.

Other facts that influence ice accumulation and subsequent damage include the intensity and duration of the freezing rain, the temperate at the time the rain falls, the direction and speed of the wind, the condition of the tree's root system, the degree of saturation of the soil, and the relative location of the tree.

"For example, the native pecan trees in certain areas are a disaster," Landgraf said. "The elevation apparently had a lot to do with this. Those on top of the hills seem to have been damaged the most. Those pecan trees in the creek bottoms seem to have sustained a lot less damage."

For those who earn all or part of their livelihoods from fruit or pecan production, the jury is still out on the long-term impact of the ice storm, Landgraf said. Right now, it seems, people are still "picking up the pieces" of what Mother Nature left behind.

Illustrations on types of ice storm damage to trees can be found on-line at http://www.noble.org/Press_Release/Ag/IceDamage2000/index.htm.

For detailed information on tree damage, removal, replacement, and selection options, contact your local Extension office.

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Ice Damage Photos with Captions

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