A summer storm just swept through our area, and summer rainstorms in sunny So Cal are a crazy natural phenomena all by themselves. No one knows how to drive, people flock to the windows to watch it rain, and every child (regardless of actual age) throws on their rain boots to walk through puddles; its a magical time… that is until the rain stops and we have a chance to survey the damage that can be caused by it.
For us, 4 of the trees on our property had branches that either cracked along the trunk, or broke off completely. This then poses the question, what do we do? You have 2 problems to solve, first remove all the excess wood that was once beautifully high and part of the tree, but is now just a giant obstacle that you have to maneuver around. Secondly, how do you help the tree heal from the giant wound that was just caused?
Okay, first a little research (don’t worry those branches aren’t going anywhere). On our property, 3 different types of trees were damaged. 1 Mimosa Tree (Albizia Julibrissin), 2 Silver Wattle Trees (Acacia Dealbata), & 1 Pine Tree (type unknown). It is important to read up on how your damaged trees react to pruning. In this case we don’t really have any choice, leaving the trunks exposed like this could lead to disease, an infestation of insects, or even rotting.
Step 2, clear away any fallen branches to get a better idea of where the real damage is, and allow you to have access to it. You can call a service for this depending on the size of the branches, or you can do it yourself if you are handy with a chainsaw. If you do call a service make sure you pick someone that really knows what they are doing, we have had some companies come to prune in the past, and they ended up killing the tree, so just be careful and do your research. It will be slightly more expensive to call someone with clout, because you don’t want all those years invested into the tree to go to waste.
Step 3, after surveying the damage, it is time to start cutting. You want to cut at a 45 degree angle below any damage. The angle is important so that water doesn’t sit on branch and rot. Be mindful of gravity when making cuts, for example don’t chop a branch above your beloved picnic table or favored pet. Be smart when cutting, never wield a chainsaw alone and be careful when up on ladders. If you have a tree that has split straight down the trunk, may it rest in peace, hold a lovely ceremony and then chop it all down. Trees that have experienced damage may take a year to start to recover, so give it time.
Special Note: Some might say to seal the cut area, but we don’t recommend this! Research has shown it is better for the tree to heal itself because sealing the wound could also seal in any type of diseases.
Once done, keep an eye on all your doctored trees and make note of any worsening conditions or improvements. Good luck, and may all your trees live to whether another storm!
Northway Gardens 