We have a couple times of year where the wind in Benton City gets a little out of control.  When and if the time comes where you need to take proactive action to prevent damage to your property, we would love to help.  We look forward to helping you prevent any damage possible.

Experts offer these pruning tips:

• Check local tree regulations prior to pruning or tree removal.
• Avoid pruning branches flush to the trunk. Doing so removes not only the limb but also some of the trunk wood, exposing the plant to decay or insect damage.
• Begin pruning by making a cut part way through the bottom of any limb to be trimmed, a few inches from the trunk. Then, cut through the limb just above the first cut. This ensures when the limb falls, it will not tear off a long strip of bark on the way down.
• Finish by cutting off the few inches sticking out from the trunk. Be sure to leave the “branch collar,” the swollen area of trunk tissue that forms around the base of a branch. This protects the main trunk from damage. It’s also important to care for storm-damaged trees.

Take the following steps:

• In general, it is best to reset only smaller trees, since larger trees will be weakened and may fall again.
• Weakened sections of trees and shrubbery can easily be blown around during high winds; causing extensive damage to structures, knocking down utility lines and blocking roads and drains.
• Cut weak branches that could easily be thrown against a structure during high winds.
• Remove branches hanging over a structure.
• Contact the local utility company to trim away any limbs close to utility lines that could potentially pull down lines or even entire poles. It is important to never touch a wire while trimming.
• Decide what to do with tree stumps.
• If you are going to leave them or have someone grind them, cut the stump off flush with the ground.
• If you plan to remove them, leave 4 ft. of stump standing.
• Removal will be cheaper and easier if stumps can be pulled out instead of dug out.

Moving Forward

We look forward to helping you with all of your tree removal, tree trimming needs, and preventative maintenance needs. When and if you have any questions about your trees, shrubs, or any other greenery on your property, we can help. We strive to be your only and best option for tree pruners in Benton City.

We have a couple times of year where the wind in West Richland gets a little out of control.  When and if the time comes where you need to take proactive action to prevent damage to your property, we would love to help.  We look forward to helping you prevent any damage possible.

Some trees are more prone to storm damage than others. A shallow-rooted tree growing in soft soil can easily topple onto a building in strong winds. A tree’s roots also can become weakened after heavy rains, elevating the risk. Have an arborist check trees to assess their resistance to storm damage. Potential problems are easy to spot:

• Cracks in the trunk or major limbs
• Hollow and decayed trees
• Trees that look one-sided or lean significantly
• Branches hanging over the building near the roof
• Limbs in contact with power lines
• Mushrooms growing from the bark, indicating a decayed or weakened stem
• V-shaped forks rather than U-shaped ones. V-shaped are more likely to split
• Crossing branches that rub or interfere with one another

Good pruning can prevent many problems. Prompt removal of diseased, damaged, or dead plant parts helps limit the spread of harmful insects and disease, as well as reduce the possibility of future storm damage.

Moving Forward

We look forward to helping you with all of your tree removal, tree trimming needs, and preventative maintenance needs. When and if you have any questions about your trees, shrubs, or any other greenery on your property, we can help. We strive to be your only and best option for tree pruners in West Richland.

We have a couple times of year where the wind in Richland gets a little out of control. When and if the time comes where you need to take proactive action to prevent damage to your property, we would love to help. We look forward to helping you prevent any damage possible.

Preventing Storm Damage Continued
There isn’t a way, except for complete enclosure, to protect trees from all storm damage. Trees are not adapted to worst-case scenario storms, only to our average wind climate. Listed are several things to minimize the main types of storm damage:

Eliminate codominant branches. Prune forked branches and branches that arise opposite each other on the stem, ideally while the tree is young. Most tree species should be upright with one main stem. Prune away branches that compete in height with the main stem. Eliminate branches with tight or narrow branch crotches. In trees with opposite branching patterns, such as maple, proper branch training is essential for a long-lived, storm resistant tree. Pruning cuts should be made on the outside of the branch bark ridge and branch collar.

Keep trees as healthy as possible with timely and adequate watering and mulching. Healthy trees adjust more quickly to changes in the environment, are more wind firm, and react more effectively to damage.

Do not over-fertilize the tree with nitrogen or over-water the soil. This can increase the crown surface area and/or decrease the rooting area. This type of biological change makes the tree more susceptible to storm damage.

Moving Forward
We look forward to helping you with all of your tree removal, tree trimming needs, and preventative maintenance needs. When and if you have any questions about your trees, shrubs, or any other greenery on your property, we can help. We strive to be your only and best option for tree pruners in Richland.