In the Greater Toronto Area, we experience a large number of storms. Some are worse than others, but the damage from each is highly visible. In many cases, trees suffer high amounts of damage during storms and require removal. Other times, trees may only suffer minor damage, and with repair, they can be saved. Five Star Tree Services helps you to understand when a tree can be repaired with crown restoration, and when it should be removed.
Crown Restoration
After a storm, any trees that suffered damage can often be pruned to restore their structural integrity. Proper restoration will prevent future tree failure while also maintaining the beauty that comes from having a tree on your property. A crown restoration is a specific way of treating an improperly pruned tree or a tree that has been damaged in a storm.
Restoring the crown helps to balance the total structure of the tree and encourages new growth, which will help the tree recover. The best way to asses if your tree will benefit from a crown restoration is to have trained arborist take a look at your tree in person. They will be able to assess the risk of failure or property damage and then determine if crown restoration is the best option.
What is the Goal of Crown Restoration?
Crow restoration will benefit the tree in several ways, such as:
- Getting rid of broken branches
- Removing hazards such as hangers
- Limiting the number of exposed branches
- Balancing out the remaining crown
Every time a tree is damaged during a storm, some branches are left exposed. Crown restoration restores balance and reduces the chance of tree failure. The crown restoration also reduces the effects of windsail. This is basically thinning the branches to allow wind to pass more easily through the tree.
Tree Removal
There is no way to replace a centuries-old tree once it is removed. No matter how many saplings you plant it its place, the benefits will not be the same. When possible, we always advocate for saving a tree as opposed to removal. With that being said, we do understand that there are times when a tree will not survive the damage from the storm, or when crown restoration will not be beneficial for the tree. In these cases, tree removal is the only option. Before removal we will consider:
- The area the tree will fall
- The overall health of the tree
- The site and load factors of the tree
- Conditions that affect tree failure
Some trees will suffer more during a storm than others simply due to their species. For example, soft Maples will suffer more in ice stores than other trees. If you can prune your trees ahead of a storm, they will have the best chance of survival following its passing.
How We Can Help
Here at Five Star Tree Services, we care about the health of your trees. Our highly skilled and trained arborists know how to spot defects, diagnose disease, and perform proper seasonal maintenance for most species of tree. If your trees have suffered damage during a storm, we can help. Give us a call at (416) 990-3355 to find out more about our Richmond Hill tree pruning and removal services.