You may not give the trees on your property much thought, but they need regular care just like your other plants. Part of that care includes trimming. Tree trimming is especially important for protecting your property against storm damage when trees are at risk of toppling or dropping branches. Here's a look at how properly trimmed trees reduce the risk of property damage during a storm.
1. Thinning Branches Reduces Wind Resistance
One thing a tree trimming professional may do to get your trees ready for storms is to thin out the crown. When there are many branches full of leaves bunched together, wind can push against the crown and knock the tree down more easily.
When the branches are thinned out, wind can pass through the branches and wind resistance is reduced. Thinning trees has other benefits too, such as letting more sunlight reach the trunk, and this can help trees be healthier.
2. Trimming Protects Power Lines
Branches on trees can sway quite a bit when the wind is strong. Plus, when the leaves are soaked with water, the branches droop lower than normal. Heavy, swaying branches can knock down power lines, so it's good to have your trees trimmed so branches are far from power poles and lines. This could save you from losing power during a storm and having a long wait to get it restored.
3. Trimming Trees Prevents Roof Damage
Storms are nature's way of cleaning dead and weak debris out of trees, but that means the broken branches can fall on your roof if a tree is close to your house. Dead branches should always be trimmed away because they are likely to fall off the tree at some point.
When a dead branch hits your roof, the impact can damage shingles and maybe cause a roof leak. If lightning strikes a tree, a limb could fall on your house, or strong wind could knock a tree over so it lands on your roof. Since these are possibilities, it's especially important to have trees near your house cared for properly so they don't lean, contain dead branches, and so they stay healthy.
It's also important to trim back branches every year so they don't scrape against your roof during storms and knock off granules or lift shingles.
Trees can do a lot of damage to your property during a storm. The combination of strong wind and soil saturated with rain can cause a tree to fall over. Plus, blowing branches can damage anything they scrape against. Much of this damage can be avoided by keeping your trees healthy and controlling their growth through regular tree trimming.
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