Your Guide To Storm-Proofing Devon Trees This Autumn
Autumn is in full swing, and with it comes a bout of unpredictable weather conditions across Devon. From harsh wind and heavy rain to categorised storms, Mother Nature can cause a lot of issues for landowners during this season, which is why preparation is vital.
The ongoing wet conditions of autumn cause soil across Devon to become saturated, leading to more unstable trees and poor growth. This instability worsens with every gust of wind, and your home could be at risk of collapsing trees and broken branches without the right care.
As leading arborists, Kneebone Trees knows first-hand how the autumn weather affects Devon trees. In this guide, we are sharing everything you need to know about storm-proofing Devon trees and how you can keep your land safe as the weather worsens.
Understanding The Risks: How Autumn Storms Affect Devon Trees
Autumn in Devon can be dramatic with fluctuating weather patterns, harsh winds and ongoing rainstorms. This sudden change in climate is not just bad news for nature lovers, as their time outdoors is reduced, but it can also be damaging to your trees.
The wind, rain and soaked grounds create unstable environments for trees, making already at-risk trees become more of an issue. Mature or poorly maintained trees are a primary concern during the autumn, as they may already be unstable. The harsh weather conditions and waterlogged ground make this worse, leading to an increased risk of collapse.
As local tree surgeons, we have seen a pattern of increased emergency call-outs during the autumn and winter months. Trees quickly become unstable and may even fall during storms, leading to expensive repairs and potential injuries.
Luckily, these can be prevented through regular tree maintenance and professional care.
The beginning of the autumn season is the ideal time to begin storm-proofing Devon trees to ensure they remain safe as the weather worsens. The sooner you act, the better protected you will be, and our team is here to help.
How To Storm-Proof Devon Trees This Autumn
Now that autumn is officially here, it is time to begin storm-proofing Devon trees to prevent property damage and injury. All kinds of trees should be storm-proofed, with particular focus on mature or poorly maintained trees, as these are the most at risk of collapse.
1: Inspect Trees For Signs Of Weakness
To determine the best course of action for storm-proofing Devon trees, you need to inspect your trees. There are some clear signs of weakness which indicate which Devon trees are most at risk of storm damage, such as:
- Cracks in trunks
- Fungal growth, which may be seen on roots, trunk, or leaves
- Leaning trees
- Deadwood
- Dense canopies, especially at this late date
These all indicate that the tree is unstable and therefore at risk of collapse during heavy wind and rain. Tree surveys should be performed seasonally to ensure that your trees remain in prime condition at all times of the year, and can usually address these issues before they get too far.
However, if your inspections during the autumn reveal any such issue, then storm-proofing Devon trees is more vital than repair. This is why inspections should be done early in the season so you can get ahead of the harsh autumn weather and prevent falling trees and damage.
To ensure a successful inspection of your trees, you can arrange a site visit from the Kneebone Trees team. As we explain in this post, we can assess the current condition of your trees and provide the most accurate solution for your specifications, ensuring safety at all times.
2: Pruning Before The Autumn Storms
Pruning is a vital part of all tree care, and a great method for storm-proofing Devon trees when done in a timely fashion. Pruning is a way of removing the loose, damaged and most at-risk branches from a tree, reducing the amount of damage that will come from storms and heavy winds.
When pruning your trees for storm-proofing, focus on dead, dying, or overextended branches. You should also aim to reduce the canopy density, as this will allow the wind to pass through the tree safely without removing branches and leaves.
It is vital that pruning is done ahead of autumn storms to prevent issues. Pruning should be avoided during and after storms, as you may be causing more damage to the tree than you realise. When pruning, make sure to use clean, sharp tools and cut as close to the trunk as possible to prevent regrowth or damage.
Kneebone Trees offers a professional pruning service and can support you through the process to ensure the safest, most effective results for storm-proofing Devon trees. To learn more about tree pruning at home, check out our guide here.
Always consult a professional when dealing with large, complex or unstable trees.
3: Stake And Support Young, Newly Planted Trees
Younger trees are more vulnerable to becoming uprooted during wet, windy weather and therefore need particular attention when storm-proofing Devon trees.
Newly planted trees have not yet established a strong root system, meaning they are more likely to be unstable. This is only going to become more of an issue as the weather worsens, and the roots can become loose over time.
Staking is one of the most effective tools in storm-proofing Devon trees in their early growing stages, as long as the correct procedures are followed. To secure young trees, ensure that ties are flexible and not too tight to allow for movement as the trees grow.
As a careful balance needs to be met when securing trees, it is recommended to hire a professional tree surgeon. To learn more about how tree surgeons can help, check out our guide on the work we do.
4: Maintain Healthy Root Systems And Soil
The key to any tree’s stability lies in its roots, and this can be maintained to ensure lasting strength and support. Tree root damage is a serious threat to homeowners, as we explore in this guide, and can even cause issues for neighbouring properties.
However, through careful maintenance, you can prevent this and keep your trees stable even in the harshest autumn weather.
Mulching is an effective and easily implemented process to support tree roots. An even layer of organic mulch can be applied around the base of the tree, avoiding direct contact to prevent rot and mould, to provide nutritional support to the tree throughout the season. When maintained well, this can prevent compaction and other signs of root damage.
Another essential part of tree root maintenance during the autumn is avoiding overwatering. This is a concern with newly planted or still developing trees, as many are tempted to provide them with more water than is necessary. However, with the wet conditions of autumn, more water around the roots can cause instability and make the tree become uprooted in windstorms.
Keeping the roots healthy ensures long-term stability within your trees and is an ongoing process. With healthy roots, you have less to worry about during Devon storms and can reduce the risk of collapse.
5: Professional Safety Inspections
As leading arborists, we provide a range of services designed to support the health and vitality of trees across the region. While we do provide emergency services and can help with collapsed trees, it is always best to work with professionals as a precaution.
Our services can be a preventive step in tree care, keeping your landscape safe throughout the autumn with early intervention. Our comprehensive tree surveys and assessments will determine whether there are any issues within your trees. Using our approved skills, we can then deliver the pruning, removal, or pollarding as required ahead of time.
To ensure that you are prepared for the harsher weather conditions, book early and request a consultation as soon as possible. Make sure to have our details on hand for emergency tree work should the worst occur.
After The Storm: What To Do To Protect Devon Trees
After storm-proofing Devon trees, you should be fully prepared to withstand the harshest weather conditions autumn has to offer.
However, to ensure that your garden is safe, there are some steps to take following a storm, heavy wind period or harsh rain:
- Check for Damage: Remaining safely on the ground, inspect your tree for signs of damage. Any damaged areas, such as cracks or broken branches, will likely need to be repaired by professional tree surgeons.
- Avoid Pruning: Following a storm, you may not be dealing with large, broken branches or trunks. Do not attempt to cut these yourself, and instead hire professionals to ensure the correct procedures are met and safety is implemented at all stages
- Call Emergency Tree Surgeons: if you notice that your tree is leaning, has excessive deadwood or has collapsed, contact our emergency team. We can offer same-day responses.
Conclusion
Storm-proofing Devon trees is an essential role in responsible tree management and should be done before the harshest weather sets in.
Autumn can bring with it some dangerous weather conditions, such as wind, heavy rain and category storms, all of which put your trees at risk.
With preventive measures, such as storm-proofing Devon trees, and working with reliable tree surgeons, you can keep your home, community and landscape safe. Our team is here to offer the support needed and operate across the region.
Contact Us Today
To learn more about our services or request a site visit, contact the team today.
FAQs
When should I prune my trees for storm-proofing?
Pruning should be done ideally in late summer or early autumn, before the worst of the weather arrives.
Do all trees need staking before storms?
No, staking is usually reserved for young and newly planted trees, as these are most at risk of being uprooted.
How can I tell if my tree is unsafe?
Look out for common signs of damage such as cracks, deadwood and fungal growth. These can indicate that your tree is vulnerable to storm damage and needs to be addressed immediately to prevent issues.
