Our trees are extremely important to us in North Carolina. One of the most beautiful aspects of our state is the deep green of the diverse amount of trees we have in our state. We have oaks, maples, cedars, elms and many more gorgeous trees in our state. It is up to professionals like Tree Tech Tree service to be the guardians of the trees in Mooresville. That is exactly how we view ourselves, as stewards of the trees and protectors of the vast carpet of foliage that covers this great state. Dangers for trees come in many different forms, from natural disasters to manmade injury, and it is important to consider a game plan if your tree becomes sick or injured. Unlike human injuries, trees are not considered for first aid when an injury occurs. That is why we have compiled a small guide to tree first aid that just may save a situation that can lead to a removal.

Rule Number One…

The first rule of tree first aid might sound a bit counterintuitive, but if you have a dangerous branch or catastrophic damage to your tree, it is best to call the professionals at Tree Tech Tree Service right away. The number one thing you want to be concerned with when working in or around trees is safety, and with a damaged tree the damage might not always be apparent. There are times when hanging branches and split trunks are way too much to handle for the average homeowner. Always remember that a damaged tree is extremely unpredictable and can be very dangerous. When in doubt, call the professionals; risking the life of your family or yourself is never worth the risk.

Storm Damage

Now that we have established the number one rule of tree first aid, let’s get on to what sort of care you can use to prevent an issue later on.We can get some pretty spectacular storms in this part of the world, and while that is an exciting part of living here, they can cause havoc to your trees. The most common injury during a storm is generally going to be broken branches and missing leaves. The missing leaves are not anything that can be repaired, and some stripped leaves will generally not harm the tree very severely. Broken branches however, can be a conduit for disease and rot. To repair the area around a broken branch it is best to cut as close to the tree as possible and remove the splintered wood as a result of the break. Sealants are available that encourage the tree to heal itself, but keep in mind that only products specifically for this purpose should be used.

Many times a tree can break a limb and tear the bark with it. In this case it is best to minimize additional tearing of the bark and carefully cut off the piece. Trimming the rough edges of the bark around the wound will also encourage a more complete healing process and reduce the introduction of undesirable agents. Trees are quite resilient and can grow in the most incredible circumstances but a single patch of ripped bark can allow disease and invasive insects to infest your tree. The bark is an incredibly important part of the tree and when damaged, can create all sorts of problems. Proper care, post injury, is the key.

Caution About Pruning

Many times a tree with little damage might appear to have much more than it actually does. The impulse of some may be to begin hacking branches in order to make the tree look better, or remove slightly damaged areas. This, although it is an attempt to save the tree, can actually do more harm than good. Many times a tree can be saved with advanced techniques, but too much trimming has been done to save the tree. If you have any doubt whatsoever, the best course of action is to call the professionals at Tree Tech Tree Service and let the experts handle damaged trees.   

Next time, we will talk about the various diseases that can infect your trees and what you can do about it. If you have any questions about the health of your trees, please do not hesitate to call your Mooresville arborist, Tree Tech Tree Service.