As we begin to prepare for the hurricane season, its time to look up and see whether our trees are ready too.

The Bermuda landscape is graced with many large trees. Whether a single specimen or several in a group, trees are a special part of the overall landscape and deserve to be cared for properly.

LARGE TREE WORK

To have work done on large and/or important trees, seek the advice of a qualified tree surgeon. Too much bad work is done on large trees in Bermuda, by the willing but unknowledgeable. A few minutes of unskilled work with a chainsaw can ruin your tree forever.

A qualified tree surgeon has the training, experience and equipment to care for your trees safely and will work to accepted international standards - before and after the storm.

BEFORE THE STORM

Look at your trees:

Will branches hit wires and cause a short and blow the circuit or, if a tree falls over will it bring down the wires completely, block the road or hit something important like your house, car, or cause damage to a neighbor's property?

If so it will need PRUNING, REDUCTION, and CROWN THINNING:

· Pruning will remove or reduce overhanging, crossing, dead or excessively heavy branches so they do not sway into the wires, or break off and hit anything.

· Reduction will lower the overall height and spread of a large tree so that it is more stable and better able to withstand high winds. Reduction is NOT 'topping'. It involves making cuts to reduce height at an appropriate branch union, so the tree still has its overall natural shape. Its branches will taper out and not be left stubbed.

· Crown Thinning involves reducing the overall density of the canopy so the wind passes through it more easily, reducing overall load on the tree.

Any work carried out on a large tree should always take into account growth habit so that the work results in the tree still having its natural shape and balance.

Don't let trees get too large or out of control before you decide it is time to do something. Anticipate potential problems and keep size and spread under control.

If a tree has become overly large, it may take a few years to bring it back under control. If this is not an option then removing it completely may be the best bet.

A Word about TOPPING:

· Topping is NOT an accepted method to reduce the height or overall size of any tree.

· Topping results in trees being cut back with no regard to their natural growth habit, and cuts are placed with no regard to correct pruning practices. Large branches are lopped off at any point, or evenly across the canopy, regardless of size. The natural shape, grace and beauty of the trees are ruined, sometimes forever.

· Very often far too much of the canopy is removed, which can either send the tree into shock and kill it, or stimulate the tree to produce an abundance of new growth that is weakly attached and prone to breaking in high winds.

· In our climate the new growth from topped trees can often regain the height of the original branches in just one year.

AFTER THE STORM

Blown Down Tree:

DANGER!

A windblown tree that is still attached to its rootplate is VERY dangerous. There are enormous forces of tension and compression in the branches, trunk and roots that have the potential to cause serious injury or death if not dealt with correctly.

Anything very large should be left for people with sufficient training and equipment.

ALWAYS inspect the area before working, if it can wait till you have time to call a professional, then WAIT. Dealing with storm damage is dangerous.

If you must clear for access then at least follow these basic guidelines:

· If using a chainsaw, wear long pants, steel toe boots, eye, ear and head protection, and stay out of the kickback zone.

· Inspect trees and the whole area carefully before cutting ANYTHING.

· DO NOT cut anything that has ANY cable or wire in it until Belco has made the area safe, you can be electrocuted even from indirect contact.

· DO NOT cut large pieces off the canopy straight away; trees can suddenly stand back upright, causing serious injury or death!

· Only cut those bits necessary for immediate access in and around your house.

· Check to determine which parts are supporting weight and which are not.

· DO NOT cut any part that is supporting excessive weight, reduce weight elsewhere first.

· Cut very small bits at any one time always watching the tree for movement.

· If the tree is to be saved, only cut off badly damaged portions, save as much of the tree as possible, to reduce the amount of shock it suffers. Cutting off too much will divert energy into wound healing and stimulate leaf production, when energy is needed to manage the injuries the tree already has.

· Shattered and torn roots should be cut cleanly just behind the damage.

· Once a tree has been stood back up, allow it to 'rest' for at least a year before carrying out major restorative work.

Large broken or torn branches:

· DO NOT climb trees without proper training, safety equipment, ropes and harnesses.

· DO NOT use a chainsaw while standing on a ladder.

· Only carry out the minimum necessary to make the tree safe, leave major restorative work for later.

· Cut off badly broken branch stubs. Make the final cut back to a smaller branch or to the trunk on the outside of the bark ridge or collar.

· DO NOT flush cut smooth to the trunk.

· If a branch has torn off and left a rip down the trunk, trim and cut all the torn parts as close to sound, undamaged wood as possible.