Storm Preparedness: How to Protect Your Trees in Nashville's Climate
How to Protect Trees From a Storm
How Can We Protect Trees From Storm Damage?
When seasons change, Nashville can reliably expect storms to arise from the fluctuations in temperature. The high winds that accompany rain, thunder, and lighting can have mild to devastating effects on the trees in our neighborhoods, from broken branches to whole fallen trees. While we can’t eliminate all risks, preventive maintenance routines can help homeowners avoid damage from weather events. Prepare for the unpredictable with our guide to safeguarding your trees and avoiding damage during Nashville’s stormy weather!
Trees in the Wind
Nashville’s temperate climate, with cold winters and hot, humid summers, sets the stage for thunderstorms in the warmer months of the year. Tennessee gets up to 60 thunderstorms annually; the windiest storms may also produce tornadoes, which are extremely dangerous to trees and humans alike (Nashville is still recovering from 2020’s ruthless tornado outbreak). Tornadoes can bring wind gusts from 40 mph to well over 100 mph (large, mature trees can usually stand winds up to 50-75 mph). However, it doesn’t take a tornado to break off a weak tree limb or blow loose branches out of a crown. In some cases, ground that is drenched, soggy, and saturated from rains or flooding can make it easier for a tree to be ripped from the ground and toppled over in the strongest of winds.
Trees will catch and sway in the wind even on mildly breezy days, and the wind is actually important for a tree’s strength as it grows from a sprout to a decades-old specimen. Waving back and forth helps develop the core strength in its trunk and roots that, in maturity, will keep a tree standing for as long as it can.
Regular Tree Care
We asked board-certified master arborist Michael Davie with Bartlett Tree Experts when the best time is for residents to plan for storm preparedness maintenance, and his reply was, “Now; if you haven’t had an arborist come and at least inspect your trees, you should do that. Hopefully, everything is fine, but it’s important to know if there are issues because trees are heavy and can cause damage when they fall.”
Healthy trees grow all their lives, some taking on a foot or two per year until they reach their mature height. They benefit from pruning every couple of years, which helps trees stay in their healthiest form. Davie continued, “Winter is the best time to prune due to the trees’ energy reserves being higher and there being less pressure from pests and disease. But if there is a pressing need to prune, anytime is fine.”
As for the busiest time of year for arborists (read: the time to avoid trying to make a last-minute appointment), Davie said their schedules are full “whenever there are big storms, which can be anytime; but aside from storms, it seems to be late spring and early summer, when leaves are first back in full flush and people may notice that a tree isn’t coming in well.”
Preparing for Storm Season
When it comes to keeping your trees in top condition to weather wind and thunderstorms throughout the year, keep the following tips in mind:
Schedule Arborist Services Early: Winter is the best time to prune a tree, and the busiest seasons for arborists are late spring and early summer. Schedule accordingly for preventative maintenance rather than dealing with damage control!
Identify Weak Trees on Your Property: A tree may be weak from disease, age, or lack of maintenance, all of which can lead to a tree’s limbs more easily breaking off or a tree falling over in a windstorm. These are hazardous trees that need immediate care or removal before nature does the work.
Prune & Trim Your Trees Regularly: Pruning trees regularly can aid in preventing storm damage by reducing or shifting wind loads, putting less strain on branches and tree bases.
Have an Emergency Plan Ready for Power Outages: In the event of a power outage during a storm, tree-related or otherwise, an emergency plan can help you keep track of what may need to be done in the event that the power remains out for an extended period of time or if a storm escalates to a dangerous situation.
Clean Up After a Storm: If a storm only blows around some branches, it may be easy to gather them up yourself. If large branches or whole trees fall during a storm, however, the metro government may provide debris pickup services. Otherwise, contacting a certified arborist or a professional landscaping company is recommended for cleaning up medium to large pieces of tree debris. In the event of property damage following a storm, get in touch with your insurance provider and take photos before having any debris removed. Communicate with your neighbors in the case of cross-property damage.
Weathering the Storm
Storms are part of Nashville living, especially this time of year. Do your part to protect your loved ones, your property, and your trees with the tips in this article. And if you’re looking to plant some trees this year, browse Nashville Tree Conservation Corps’ tree sale to choose the right species for the space available in your yard! If you can’t plant a tree of your own, volunteer with NTCC and help us plant trees around Nashville! For regular updates on Nashville tree news and canopy care tips, subscribe to our email newsletter.