Excess rainfall and flooding- How it creates dangerous hazard trees.
Press Release for Dallas & Fort Worth, Texas – (05/18/2015)
Preservation Tree Services, DFW’s premier professional tree care company, has some serious concerns about the large trees around DFW. The continual storms, constant rainfall and flooding are putting intense pressure on our drought-stressed trees.
According to the National Storm Damage Center, trees damaged by severe weather account for more than $1 billion in property damage in the United States each year.
“Many trees are already dealing with highly diminished root systems due to the past drought-plagued years. These ailing root systems are subject to increased trouble from the saturated conditions” says Billy Cook, Chief Arborist at Preservation Tree Services.
While the rain is much-needed in the area, the rate and frequency with which it’s delivered can cause serious issues. Heavy and continual rainfall saturates the soil, pushing out oxygen and leaching out key nutrients. Why should a lack of oxygen in the soil be a cause for concern?
Healthy tree root systems require a balance of soil pore space, water, and oxygen. As oxygen in the soil decreases, anaerobic conditions take over. Without proper circulation of oxygen below the soil and around tree roots, root rot becomes a big concern.
Trees with rotting root systems can topple over with no warning.
Stressed trees growing in anaerobic soil are also susceptible to soil heaving. Soil heaving is a swelling of the subsoil due to increases in ground water from heavy rainfall, flooding and plumbing leaks. Heaving can also be caused by ground frost in colder climates and construction activity around a home. The tree’s roots are its support system: A weakened root system in heavily saturated soil can fail structurally if the soil heaves. Trees that are already stressed, have a compromised root system or are leaning are especially susceptible to toppling over under heavy rain and storm conditions.
Most signs that a large tree is in danger of falling are usually not obvious to homeowners.
How can you prevent your tree from falling? Have it inspected by an experienced tree care company and a certified arborist. Under these weather conditions, Preservation Tree recommends heavy aeration of the soil around the tree, combined with organic matter and additional soil amendments to increase the oxygenation of the soil. Aeration can help minimize the soil heaving potential as well as suppress root rot diseases.
Preservation Tree Services also performs static tests to determine whether a leaning tree is susceptible to damage in high wind conditions.
About Preservation Tree Services: Preservation Tree Services sets the standards for tree care and provides sustainable, science based tree care expertise to residential, municipal and commercial clients throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In
2015, Preservation Tree is celebrating its 20th anniversary of service.
###
Please feel free to contact Nikki Rosen directly for more information or additional photos for print.
