Young trees are often susceptible to damage from high winds. Even in the spring and summer months – when frost is no longer a problem – they can fall victim to strong wind gusts.
Just a single storm can topple a young tree or otherwise cause stress and damage.
While there’s no way to control mother nature, there are steps you can take to protect your trees from wind damage.
Stake Your Trees
It’s a very good idea to install support stakes when planting a new tree. These support stakes can be made of metal or wood.
You’ll want to use a strong but soft fabric to tie the tree to each stake, leaving a little slack for the tree to move naturally in normal winds, but not so much that they sway too far in any direction.
The natural sway will help the tree to establish a strong root system, a strong trunk and strong branches.
Using two stakes as in the picture above is sufficient but having three stakes is even better.
Choose the Right Location
Granted, this isn’t always an option. Assuming your tree is still a sapling, however, you should consider moving it to a new location – a location that’s naturally protected from the wind.
If the wind typically blows from east to west, for instance, try moving your tree to the west side of your house.
Your house will act as a windbreak, stopping the wind while protecting your tree from damage.
Use a Cover
Try using a cover to protect your tree from wind damage.
Some people assume that covers are only useful for protecting trees from frost, but this isn’t necessarily true. They can also be used to protect trees from wind, pests and other forms of damage.
When using a cover, place it over the top of your tree and tape the bottom down around the trunk. Once the winds have subsided, though, you should remove the cover so your tree can fully absorb the sunlight.
Water
Keeping your tree watered promotes stronger roots and branches, which in turn reduces the risk of damage during severe winds and storms.
When a tree becomes dehydrated, its branches weaken, and in some cases, dye. Therefore, it’s important to keep your tree hydrated throughout the year.
Just remember to check your local city or county to see if there are water restrictions in place.
Pruning
Pruning your tree on a regular basis can also protect it from wind damage.
When branches grow to the point where they bend under their own weight, it’s usually a sign it needs pruning, in which case you should cut it back to an appropriate size.
If the tree has dead, dying or damage branches, you should prune them away as well. Leaving these branches on your tree will only cause additional stress during high winds and storms.
These are just a few tips to protect your tree from wind damage.
The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.
If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
I’m wanting to remodel my yard and that entails removing some of the old dying trees to replace them with new ones. The biggest problem I have with my current trees is that large branches will fall off in storms and it really worries me. I think since my location is windy, utilizing a cover or choosing a location that isn’t super windy could be very beneficial. Thanks for the tips, this will really help ensure the young trees are able to grow once the large ones are removed.