THE LEAFLET

Summer in the DMV this year can be summed up with the phrase, “When it rains, it pours.” We haven’t seen a lot of rain, but the storms we have had are fast and furious. This is a troublesome combo for a lot of reasons, for with severe summer storms can come significant tree damage.

High winds and strong rains can exacerbate weakness and down trees and trees need slow, steady, consistent rain to nourish them as they grow. Thanks to climate change, less frequent, more intense rains are something we should get used to. Or at least equip ourselves adequately. Here are some tree tips for before, during, and immediately after a storm:

Before the Storm

Be proactive: Hire a certified arborist to inspect your trees and provide any necessary pruning before a storm hits. Certified arborists can identify and remove problem branches and hazardous trees before they are a threat to property or human safety. Hire one of our many certified arborists for all your tree pruning needs. We provide small tree removals, but for larger trees we recommend reaching out to a certified arborist at goodtreecare.com.

See Something, Say Something: If the troublesome tree in question is a street tree, you can submit a Street Tree Maintenance Request through 311 on the phone or online. A photo is best, but accurate and descriptive location info is truly helpful. The Urban Forestry Division of the District Department of Transportation owns and maintains all street trees (those in the area between the sidewalk and the street). If the questionable tree is on public property that isn’t the right of way (a park or school perhaps) reach out to the appropriate agency. 

After the Storm

Keep an eye out for DDOT: With less than ten arborists for the entire city and full schedules, it can be a feat of engineering for DDOT to re-work their schedules to attend to last minute, downed trees. But that doesn’t mean they’re not out there! If you notice a tree that you submitted a request about has been taken care of, do DDOT a favor and delete your service request or let them know via Twitter. The more resources they can devote to pressing concerns the better! 

Respond: Just like proactive maintenance, if you notice a street tree — a tree located between the sidewalk and street — with any damaged limbs or one that has completely fallen, contact 311. Be ready to provide them with a street address or intersection where the damaged tree is located. For fallen or damaged trees on private property, the responsibility falls to the property owners. Contact a certified arborist so they can evaluate the tree’s structural stability, prevent or treat infection and/or provide restoration pruning or removal.

Practice caution: If a downed tree is in contact with or is within 10 feet of any power lines, whether on public or private property, immediately contact Pepco at 202.872.3432. Do not touch the tree, branch or wires.

Plan to replace removed trees: The adage is – if you remove a tree, you should plant a replacement tree in its place. Spend summer watering and caring for your trees but set time aside this fall — the best time to plant trees — to plant a tree. Our Tree Rebate or RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree programs make it possible to do so for little to no cost!