How to Spot a Storm-Damaged Tree

How to Spot a Storm-Damaged Tree

Use caution around trees that appear dead or dying

DECATUR, Ga. – Tropical Storm Irma brought hundreds of trees down in DeKalb, and the county continues to receive reports of newly fallen trees. Storm-damaged and unhealthy trees pose a risk of falling, and the University of Georgia’s DeKalb County Extension office offers the following tips to evaluate the health of trees. Always use caution when examining potential storm-damaged trees.

Issues to look for include:

• Large broken or hanging branches, especially over electrical lines.
• Dead branches within the canopy, which are obvious potential hazards.
• Cracks in the main tree trunk or at branch connections.
• Large trunk wounds, cankers and galls.
• Large tree hollows or cavities, which are also weak points where breakage can occur.
• Cracks or separations in the soil, which may indicate soil heaving from excessive movement of the roots. This is especially a warning sign for failure if the tree is leaning.
• Leaning trees that are already partially uprooted.
• Mushrooms that may be growing on trucks, at root flares or farther out in the lawn but attached to the roots.
• Excessive mistletoe, which is a parasitic plant.

For a proper tree inspection and consultation, the Extension service urges residents to contact an ISA Certified arborist, who can be found through the Georgia Arborist Association at www.georgiaarborist.org.