According to the National Storm Damage Center, falling trees cause more than one billion dollars a year in property damage in the United States. Heavy rain caused by storms can cause tree roots to lose their grip on the earth and high winds can send limbs and branches flying through the air with incredible force. If you live in an area that is prone to tropical storms, you may want to learn how to manage the trees on your property to avoid being part of this billion-dollar statistic. 

A Healthy Tree Is A Happy Tree

The easiest way to keep your trees from becoming uprooted in the event of an intense storm is to simply keep the trees healthy. Products like tree root fertilizer can help to strengthen a tree's roots and help them to create a firm bond with the soil. Of course, this also provides beneficial nutrition to the branches and leaves overhead.

If you notice that some of your trees' roots are poking up above the surface of your yard, you can use some helpful tools and supplies to influence the direction of the roots' growth. Products like tree root redirection kits can help to force the roots underground, strengthening the overall structure of the tree. This way, when the strong winds come, your tree will be anchored fast to the ground.

Eliminating The Threat

Of course, the easiest way to remove the threat of a falling tree is to remove the tree from your property entirely. There are a couple of ways to go about a task like this, either:

1. Chop down the tree using an axe and chainsaw.
   • You will need to plan a fall line, clearing the area where the tree will land.
   • The landing area is successfully targeted using a series of strategic cuts to ensure that the tree falls in as controlled a manner as possible. Professional tree service workers can fell a tree within a few degrees of their planned fall line.
2. Remove the tree from the root system using a specialized tractor setup.
   • High-powered tractors can use a special front-end attachment that can dig into the ground and sever all of a tree's roots with one fluid motion. Once the tree has been separated from its roots, the tractor lifts the entire tree and places it on a trailer for transport.

A Warning

Many property owners foolishly choose to kill the tree using a series of harsh chemicals that target the tree's root system. This deprives the tree of its vital nutrients, killing the entire tree over a matter of weeks. This creates two problems:

1. The tree cannot be transplanted or replanted.
2. The tree's roots can weaken and deteriorate so rapidly that the tree begins to lean and eventually falls.

The great thing about removing an intact tree from your property is that the tree can be transplanted in a public park, school, or other scenic location. Killing the tree ensures that no one will ever get to enjoy the shade that the tree provides, or hear the wind rustle through its leaves on a brisk Spring afternoon. Consider finding a plant or tree nursery that will buy the tree from you upon its healthy removal from your property.

Be Proactive

You should always make sure to check on the overall health of the trees on your property if you live in an area prone to heavy storms. Use the simple solutions listed above to strengthen your trees, and if necessary, take the steps needed to remove any potentially harmful trees from your property. Thinking ahead and taking care of the problem before the storm hits could make all the difference.

For more information about tree care and removal, visit http://www.prtree.com.