Take a look around your home. The landscaping can be attractive but is it as safe as it can be in the event of a natural disaster?
Every year falling trees and limbs cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage as well as personal injuries and deaths.
In Orlando it's estimated that more than 20,000 trees were lost in that city alone due to Hurricane Charley.
Whether it's a hurricane, tornado, ice storm or wildfire - trees that are old, weak, diseased, not properly maintained or just in the wrong place can be a dangerous hazard to your home.
But there are ways to protect your home and family from damage and injury caused by trees. Here are some suggestions.
Choose the Right Tree
Some varieties of trees are more prone to storm damage than others. Thousands of homes have been damaged because nearby trees were wrong for the soil or region where they were planted.
• A strong wind can easily topple a shallow rooted tree growing in soft soil.
• City foresters, county extension offices, local nurseries and landscape firms can provide advise on tree selection for your area and soil conditions.
Learn how to care for your trees
Regular and proper pruning can strengthen the health and vitality of your trees. Removal of dead, diseased or damaged parts of the tree will also stop the spread of disease and harmful insects that can significantly weaken or destroy your tree. Avoid pruning branches flush to the tree. Doing so removes not only the limb but part of the trunk, opening the tree to possible decay or insect damage.
Learn how to spot potential problems early
Homeowners are the first line of defense against problem trees - regularly check for signs of damage or disease including:
• Cracks in the trunk or major limbs
• Insect infestations
• Trees that look one-sided or that lean significantly
• Branches hanging over the house or near the roof
• Limbs in contact with power lines
• Mushrooms growing from the bark signaling decay
• Crossing branches that rub or interfere with each other
Tree care professionals including arborists, can examine trees for more subtle signs of weakness and take care of problems including pruning limbs that may be too big or too high for a homeowner to take down safely.
Plant with Wildfire in Mind
In recent years, thousands of homes have been burned and lives lost because of wildfire and in many cases improper landscaping has contributed to the problem.
• In areas of wildfire risk, landscaping should be considered an essential part of fire protection.
• Create a defensible space around your home using this rule - clear at least 30 feet around your home, 50 feet if your are in a heavily wooded area or 100 feet if you live on a hillside.
• Plant fire resistive, native vegetation.
• Space trees at least 10 feet apart.
• Remove dead or dying trees.
• Keep trees properly pruned. Branches of mature trees should be at least 6 feet from the ground and shrubs under the trees should be no more than 18 inches high.
• Trim branches so they don't extend over the roof or near the chimney.
• Properly dispose of cuttings and debris.
Plant with Crime in Mind
Burglars enter a home in the United States every five seconds. You can avoid becoming a statistic by making sure your home doesn't look like a target of opportunity. Trim shrubs and trees back to avoid a hidden entry into your home and trim lower limbs of trees that could help a thief climb into a second story window.
Take a look around your home. The landscaping can be attractive but is it as safe as it can be in the event of a natural disaster?
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