Spring storms may damage trees

By My Courier-Tribune

Spring weather has been hitting the area hard the past few weeks. Strong winds and wet conditions have posed a diverse set of risks to residents. Some injured trees can be trimmed to maintain their health and value to homeowners, states a release from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Others should be removed. Knowing what repairs to make, how to make them and how to avoid paying for unneeded services can help keep injury — both physical and financial — at a minimum.

Before taking action to trim or remove trees damaged in a storm, residents can consider the following advice from the conservation department:

Safety first. Be aware of utility lines and hazardous overhanging limbs. Alert your electricity provider immediately and allow experts to assess the danger. “Remove trees or limbs that have fallen on your home or are blocking access to your residence. Also, look for any hanging limbs in trees that could drop on your home,” reads the release.

Be patient. As long as there isn’t a safety risk, take your time to assess the damage and make decisions on which trees to cut and which ones to save. Take the time to ensure it gets proper care and make a final decision whether to prune or remove it in a few weeks or months.

Take heart. Trees are resilient and often possess the ability to recover from severe conditions over time.

“If you decide to remove the tree, consider replacing it with a native tree or filing that with a native plant flower bed,” states the conservation department.