News release issued June 4, 2001, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Thunderstorm winds deliver damaging blow to trees

ARDMORE, Okla. - Many Oklahoma residents will likely spend the next several days cleaning up fallen limbs and tree branches resulting from severe thunderstorms that raked the Sooner State Sunday afternoon and evening.

Widespread winds in excess of 50 miles per hour - with gusts approaching 100 miles per hour in several locations - damaged trees from the Kansas border to the Red River. The strongest winds, which occurred mostly to the west of a Stillwater to Durant line, left homeowners, landscapers, pecan producers, ranchers and many others facing 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 is to leave the trees alone. Chances are excellent that they will survive with little or no long-term effects.

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 using wires and rubber hose to stabilize the trunk. Keep it well watered during the summer months and fertilize in the fall. Large uprooted trees should be removed, since most of the root system is probably separated from the trunk.

Factors that influence wind 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 good architecture is naturally able to resist wind damage. Trees with wider branching angles are stronger than those with narrow angles. Fast-growing trees generally have narrow branch angles, resulting in a weaker structure.

Other facts that influence how a tree fares in strong winds include 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 detailed information on tree damage, removal, replacement, and selection options, contact your local Extension office.

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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.

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