The impact of excess rainfall on trees could certainly be a concern once you have trees you do not want to lose or that are near enough to your house to cause possible damage.
Do you ever wonder why your trees can stand through plenty of crazy storms, but then there is one tree that doesn’t make it during one bad rainstorm? You may be wondering why a few trees fall and others don’t. Winds, snow, and ice can topple a tree, but you might be surprised when a large amount of rain causes it to fall as well. The impact of excess rainfall on trees could certainly be a concern once you have trees you do not want to lose or that are near enough to your house to cause possible damage if they were to fall down. Read on to learn more about excess soil moisture, what you can do to better understand this scenario, and how to better protect your trees!
The Impact of Saturated Soil on Your Trees
Once your soil becomes very saturated, the water replaces the oxygen in your soil. This stresses the tree because tree roots require oxygen to live properly. There are both short-term and long-term impacts on your trees as a result of any waterlogged soil.
The Short-Term Impact
The short-term impact of excess soil moisture on your trees has to do with its roots. A tree’s roots act like anchors. So once the wind blows, those roots hold the tree through the pulling and pushing of the wind, which is what keeps the tree upright. But once the soil becomes very saturated and almost soup-like, it loses all strength, and roots slip through the soil even more. This is what contributes to tree failure if a strong wind is to blow after or during rainfall or if the tree is out of balance because of a lean or asymmetric canopy.
The Long-Term Impact
If excess soil moisture is building over a long period of time near your tree roots, there are some signs that your arborist will look for to determine the impact on your tree. For example, you may see buckling of the soil on one side of a tree that is starting to lean, signaling that the root plate is beginning to shift. There could also be root death and decay in the roots, which could show up in the tree canopy once the leaves come thin or you notice a lot of dying or dead limbs. You could even see mushrooms growing on the tree’s base, which signals decay.
Give Harford Tree a call if you’re experiencing tree damage after a storm!
Tree Care and Maintenance from Harford Tree
Ready to have the beautiful yard you have always dreamed of? Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping, Inc has been in the business for decades, providing customers with quality work and quick responses all at the right price. We service the areas of Harford County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City areas including Bel Air, Fallston, Perry Hall, Towson, Essex, Parkville, White Marsh and Middle River.
For service during business hours, reach out to us or give us a call at 410-592-7321. We offer 24/7 emergency service as well, just give us a call at 443-250-6649. For updates about our business and more informative tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.