Tips of the Month - October
Hurricane Irene Damage – Focus on Trees
According to New York Times, the industry estimates Hurricane Irene caused between $7 and $10 billion in damage along the eastern seaboard. It was also noted that the number of downed trees was well into the tens of thousands in Connecticut alone. Following Irene’s destructive course, Total Tree Care’s licensed arborists inspected hundreds, if not, thousands of these trees and discovered that while some trees had visible defects and consequently failed at the defect, the majority of completely downed trees failed as a result of uprooting (Pictured left).
According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, there are three major types of damaged trees caused by a hurricane: sheared tops, split branches, and toppled or uprooted trees. However, did you know damaged and downed trees can be prevented and protected, even from a hurricane? After a storm, broken branches (Pictured right) should be properly pruned to produce strong and healthy re-growth. Broken branches with jagged tears and large surface areas can be detrimental to a tree’s health for the following reasons:
- They attract insects and diseases
- They do not callus over (a tree’s way of healing) these large wounds very quickly and often develop large areas of decay that severely reduce the strength of a tree
- They do not allow the tree to reestablish healthy growth Proper pruning implemented after a storm has hit can help the tree develop strong and healthy re-growth. Pruning promotes healthy re-growth can often mean the difference between a tree being an asset to a property versus a liability.
Even though we are approaching the end of the growing season, TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association) says that Autumn is the best time to prune trees, especially with winter right around the corner.
If you have any questions, or would like one of Total Tree Care’s arborist to inspect your property for trees that are in need of pruning before the winter months arrive, please call our office, 203-272-0391. Thank you and have a safe and happy harvest season!
Best wishes,
Luke Williams
The Importance of Trees during Periods of Excessive Rainfall
Did you know that trees can help suppress excessive storm water during a downpour or hurricane? It’s true! According to an article written in Arbor Day magazine, trees can help prevent flooding under severe rainfall conditions, not only in Connecticut but all around the United States. Trees and plantings are important because the tree’s canopy breaks the force of falling rain, which lessens soil erosion and runoff. A tree’s root system also helps reduce soil erosion/runoff by holding the soil together with the smaller root hairs located at the ends of the longer roots.
In addition, when leaves are left on the ground, it contributes to a rich organic soil make up, which also aids to moisture retention and lessens soil runoff.
Autumn is an excellent time for planting trees. While rain is beneficial to the earth, including lawns, trees, and soil, too much rain and too little trees to absorb the moisture can cause costly storm water runoff and floods that can contain detrimental substances such as oil, heavy metal particles and other dangerous chemicals. Ideally, neighborhoods, especially urban areas that generally lack trees, should strive to have an abundance of trees (pictured above).
It’s never too late to take preventative measures. If you would be interested in having trees or plantings added to your property, municipality, or commercial business, please do not hesitate to contact our office, 203-272-0391, and speak with one of our Connecticut licensed arborists about how you can best protect you and your property from unsightly floods and damage.
I hope you find this information helpful, and for more information or for the entire Arbor Day “Trees Tame Stormwater” article, please visit www.arborday.org/stormwater. Thank you and enjoy the fall season!
Be well,
Mike Kennedy
Why Do Leaves Change Color?
Autumn has arrived! The trees have begun to change to vibrant colors like red, yellow and orange. But do you know why?
According to the USDA, there are three major factors that influence color change in leaves as summer transitions into autumn: leaf pigmentation, length of nighttime, and weather.
The three major pigments found in leaves are chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis and give leaves their green coloring during the growing season, carotenoids, which produces yellow, orange, and brown during the autumn months, and finally, anthocyanins, a red-purple pigment most commonly present in oak and dogwood trees. As mentioned, during the growing season, chlorophyll is produced; however, as fall approaches and night begins to fall earlier in the afternoon, chlorophyll production slows because the trees are no longer receiving the same amount of sunlight they had received during the summer. This change allows the carotenoids and anthocyanins pigments to show through.
While color will change based on the slowing of chlorophyll production, the vibrancy and amount of color is directly attributed to the weather conditions. The most favorable weather conditions that produce vibrant, healthy looking autumn leaf colors is a sequence of warm and sunny days with cool and crisp nights.
Autumn is also the time to prepare your trees for the winter that lies ahead. To find out more about our fall fertilizations and winter treatments or if you have any other questions regarding your trees, Total Tree Care’s arborists are here to help, so please do not hesitate to call our office 203-272-0391.
Thank you for your time and I wish you a fall filled with much color!
Health and Happiness,
Rob Staib