Planting Replacement Trees After the Storm
Contributing writer: Sara Turner, Urban Forestry Manager
Since the derecho system hit last Friday, we’ve received a lot of inquiries about replacing damaged and fallen trees. What to plant and when to plant being the most popular questions.
When replacing storm-damaged trees, consider a species’ susceptibility to damage from ice, snow and wind. While any tree has the potential to fall during a storm event, certain trees are inherently more prone to storm damage than others. Generally fast growing trees have weak wood and are susceptible to failure in a storm as well as trees that tend to grow co-dominant stems or have horizontal branching habit.
A few tree species susceptible to storm damage for these and other reasons include:
- Red maple
- Silver maple
- Birch
- Tuliptree
- Pine
- Bradford pear (invasive tree species)
- Cherries
- Leyland cypress
While these trees are more prone to suffer damage or fall in a storm, their greater susceptibility is not a reason to not plant them with the exception of the Bradford pear which is an invasive species. A diverse urban forest is a healthy urban forest. It is simply a reminder that to provide these and other tree species regular care and maintenance including weekly watering to promote stronger root systems, appropriate soil volumes and structural pruning as necessary.
As you start to think about replacing a damaged or lost tree, consider the following:
- Diversify. Never use more than 30 percent of plants from one family, no more than 20 percent from one genera and no more than 10 percent from one species.
- Plan for a tree’s mature size. Apply Right Tree, Right Space principles and soil volume requirements. Trees need 1 to 2 cubic feet of soil volume for every square foot of crown.
- Factor in the trees’ growth rate. Generally fast growing trees have weak wood and are susceptible to failure.
- Buy a quality tree. Be sure to inspect the tree’s root system, trunk and leaves before purchasing it.
- Select a tree to meet your level of maintenance in both time and cost.
So what tree species are more storm resistant? Here is a short list of options for you to consider planting this fall. Avoid planting trees in the summer when it is hot and humid out.
- American hornbeam
- Sweetgum
- Kentucky coffeetree
- Oak
- Bald cypress
- Beech
While there is an initial cost to installing and maintaining a tree, the investment and all the benefits of planting a tree are well worth it. We can also help offset the cost through our Tree Rebate and RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree programs. Our Tree Rebate program is ideal for those who like to get their hands dirty (and get as much as $100 for planting a large shade tree) and our RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree program is great for those who want to help select the species and the planting location but prefer we plant it. We offer something for everyone!
To know just when to plant your replacement or new tree and to get selection and care tips, keep reading our blog and be sure you are subscribed to receive our monthly e-newsletter. We will even be putting out instructional videos for our more visual learners. Stay tuned!
How do i get DC to evaluate old, hge trees in RC tree boxes? I fear these old huge trees, w shallow roots Will fall on top of our house.
Aren’t oak trees susceptible to storm damage as well as the other trees you mention as “susceptible to storm damage”? Oaks grow mugh higher than those susceptible trees and have a very wide spread, i.e., more area for the wind to toss around.