Landscape Trees Damaged by Ike? – Don’t eliminate without careful evaluation
Dr. William M. Johnson, County Extension Agent-Horticulture
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Galveston County Office
5115 Highway 3
Dickinson, Texas 77539

The winds have calmed. The flood waters have receded. Lives were disrupted on a grand scale (I’m still waiting for the lights to come on in my neck of the municipal woods). To state that Hurricane Ike has dealt a memorable blow would be an understatement. Even so, we will have memorable tales to spin about how Hurricane Ike impacted our lives.

Over the past few days, I have received many phone calls asking about how flooded landscapes will impact the health of trees. It is not surprising that homeowners would be concerned about their landscape trees. Landscape trees not only provide welcome shade during the heat of summer but can also help reduce cooling costs for the home. They can also add to the value of a property.

Hurricane Ike left trees looking like there’s no tomorrow in many areas. There were many instances where trees were blown over and many instances where major limbs were broken or damaged, foliage was shredded or stripped, or the bark had been torn or gouged. What at first glance may look like mortal wounds are not necessarily fatal to a tree as trees have an amazing ability to recover from storm damage.

The first step is to assess the damage. Before writing off a damaged tree as a "goner," evaluate trees by asking the following questions:

Other than the storm damage, is the tree basically healthy and vigorous? If the tree is basically healthy, is not creating a hazard, and did not suffer major structural damage, it will generally recover if first aid measures are applied soon after the storm.

Are major limbs broken? The larger a broken limb is, the harder it will be for the tree to recover from the damage. If a majority of the main branches are gone, the tree may have little chance of long-term survival.

Has the leader been lost? In species where a leader (the main upward-trending branch on most trees) is important to upward growth or desirable to appearance, it may have to be a judgment call. The tree may live without its leader, but at best would be a stunted or deformed version of the original (pine trees being a prime example).

Is at least 50 percent of the tree’s crown (branches and leaves) still intact? This is a good rule of thumb on tree survivability. A tree with less than half of its branches remaining may not be able to produce enough foliage to nourish the tree through another season.

How big are the wounds where branches have been broken or bark has been damaged? The larger the wound is in relation to the size of the limb, the less likely it is to heal well, leaving the tree vulnerable to diseases and pests. A 2-3 inch wound on a 12-inch diameter limb will seal over with new bark within a couple of years.

Are there remaining branches that can form a new branch structure? The remaining limbs will grow more vigorously as the tree tries to replace its missing foliage. Look to see if branches are in place that can eventually fill out the tree’s appearance.

Is the tree of a desirable species for its location? If the tree is in the wrong location (such as a potentially tall tree beneath a power line), or an undesirable species for the property (messy fruit, etc.), it may be best to remove it if it has serious damage.

The questions listed above are intended to help you make informed decisions about your trees. In general, the answer as to what to do about a particular tree will fall into one of the following three categories:

It’s a "Keeper." If damage is relatively slight, prune any broken branches, repair torn bark or rough edges around wounds, and let the tree begin the process of wound repair.

Wait and See. If a valuable tree appears to be a borderline case, resist the temptation to simply cut the tree down and be done with it. In such cases, it may be best to wait a while and think it over. Remember that time is on your side. After careful pruning of broken branches, give the tree some time to recover. A final decision can be made later. The majority of trees may be classified into this category.

Say Goodbye. Some trees simply cannot be saved or are not worth saving. If the tree already has been weakened by disease, if the trunk is split, or more than 50 percent of the crown is gone, the tree has lost its survival edge. Significant loss of limbs and leaf sites will drastically reduce the tree’s photosynthesis capacity and ultimately, its ability to recover and survive.

Some trees may have damage that’s too close to call, or may have hidden damage. To help with such questions, a tree professional may be needed to help you decide what to do about your trees. Don’t hire just anyone who shows up at your door following a storm. Ask around for references and experiences of friends and neighbors.

A Final Comment Regarding Small Trees and Shrubs. Many phone calls have been in regard to small trees and shrubs that were partially blown over with little damage to the roots and no damage to the trunk and limbs. As a general recommendation, it’s worth setting such plants upright again, especially if they were transplanted within the past year. Provide water as needed over the next several months, place mulch over the root zone area, wait to fertilize next spring and take a wait-and-see approach. If the leaves do not become dry, there is a good chance that they will survive.

For more information contact:
Texas AgriLife Extension Service - Galveston County Office
5115 Highway 3
Dickinson, Texas 77539
(281) 534-3413, Ext. 1, 2

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