One has to wonder if your trees are in any shape for the wet months. Can you tell which limbs will be put to the test in a heavy storm? You may not have given much consideration as to what the rain will do to the soil at the root level.
Then again, most of us do not. Homeowners tend to give their trees a second thought only when they find a branch on the roof. We at ArborTech Inc. have been in the business of tree care in the San Francisco Bay Area for some 30 years and can say with certainty that fall is the time to nip these issues in the bud. Pick up the phone at (510) 913-9912 and we will discuss the requirements of your property.
A bit of forethought is well worth it once the rain comes down. Below are a few matters to consider ahead of the wet season.
Why the Fall is Important for Trees in the Bay
The pattern in the Bay Area is only too familiar. After a protracted dry summer there comes a rainy season with its share of wind and hard storms. A tree that was no trouble all summer can turn into a liability when the ground is soft and sopping. The wind will make short work of a diseased or feeble branch, and the roots are not as secure in wet earth.
You see this kind of failure in winter storms. Best to deal with it while the ground is still firm and the weather mild.
An Inspection is in Order
Put in a walk around the grounds and cast an eye upward for signs of a tree having difficulty in the elements. Things to note:
- Branches, dead or otherwise, that the wind can dislodge
- Any splits or cracks at the junction of trunk and limb
- An incline that has become more pronounced of late
- Mushrooms or fungus at the base
- Where the canopy is bare and ought to be full
- Roots heaving up the pavement or soil
Should you come across any of it, let someone have a good look at it. Being ISA affiliated, our people can distinguish a structural hazard from something purely cosmetic.
Pruning Done Right
There is no better time than fall to prune with some care. Put in the work to clear out the weak and crowded branches and you are lessening the surface area for the wind to get hold of, thereby averting damage. The tree is also put in a position to put its energy to better use.
It is easy to make a mistake though. The wrong cut, or the wrong angle, and you have a weaker tree for your efforts. A trained arborist with the right equipment is a good investment, particularly when large limbs are near power lines or the house.
Soil and Drainage
Water will pool at the base of a tree if left to it and over the course of a long wet season that is a recipe for rot and suffocated roots. See how the water runs off in your yard and mark the low spots by the trunk.
Proper grading and drainage are of consequence. We provide landscaping and hardscaping for our commercial and residential clients to that end; a well thought out design will have your property in fine order and your trees protected.
Make It a Plan, Not an Emergency
Too often we are called in to do the hard and costly cleanup after a storm has made its mark. It is far less trouble to plan for it in the fall.
Of course, should a tree go down in the middle of the night and you are unprepared, we have emergency service around the clock. Outside of our normal hours of 8:30 to 4:30 Monday to Friday, we will be there to help.
Preparation is Key
We are a local operation serving the entire Bay Area, from Berkeley and Oakland to Walnut Creek, Palo Alto, Livermore and Fremont. Permits are no problem for us in Alameda, Contra Costa or San Mateo counties if your project requires them.
Do not leave it to the first storm to make decisions for you. For a free estimate and to set up an inspection with ArborTech Inc., ring us at (510) 913-9912. Prepare now and you can have your peace of mind through the winter.
