by Stacey Paretti Rase
Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon? The sun seems to rise earlier and shine brighter when it hits your bedroom window. At night, your walls catch the lights of every car that passes near your home. Your electric bill is higher than ever before, because you just can’t seem to keep it cool enough inside. And neighbors that you never even knew you had are in your direct line of sight when you peer out from your front door.
If so, you’re not alone. In fact, your situation is not unlike most others on the northshore. The reason for our strange condition? All of our trees are gone. That’s the bad news. The good news, according to local arborists, is that now is just the right time to begin anew. Late fall and winter time are perfect for planting new trees. And with the proper selections, you will be enjoying more shade (and privacy!) in no time.
When selecting new trees for your landscape, Louisiana-licensed arborist Freddie Gonzales of Dixie Tree Service, L.L.C. says that there are many varieties that can be planted now to quickly acquire the shade effect that so many of us are desiring. Trees such as the Bradford pear, river birch and crepe myrtle are fast-growing and relatively inexpensive choices that blend nicely into most landscapes. Gonzales’ top pick of trees, however, is the live oak, especially for those who are planning to be in their homes for years to come. “If you plant a small live oak, about six inches in diameter and ten feet high, you will be truly enjoying it in about fifteen years,” he says. “If you don’t want to wait that long, then a water oak or post oak is the way to go.”
And if you’re concerned about protecting your tree investment from the next big storm, Gonzales points out that live oaks around the area fared substantially well, compared to other species. One drive around the northshore area proves his point, as live oaks continue to stand tall, while other species litter the ground around them. Gonzales says that the liters of an oak tree—the large parts that jut off from the trunk and contain its many branches—contain wood that grows in spiral formations. “That’s what makes them dense and heavy, so they don’t break easily. That’s also why oaks aren’t used for firewood,” he adds. “It’s difficult to cut wood into logs that grow in that spiral formation.”
Smart homeowners know that proper care of their trees, in the form of preventive maintenance, can save a tree from disaster in high winds. By having a professional trim and prune annually, weaker portions of each tree can be effectively removed. “Trees that are properly maintained don’t catch the wind as easily as others,” he notes. “If people spent more time paying attention to good pruning, the high winds would just pass through the tree instead of creating a sail effect, which brings the tree down.” Another preventive measure for future storms includes tying down trees with cable anchors—a good suggestion for shorter, ornamental trees.
But now that the damage is done, experts offer advice for the next step in surveying your tree damage. First, take a look around at your still-standing trees. Look up into the treetops for hanging limbs, or those that are dead and brown. Those branches should be removed promptly to avoid further damage to property or human life should they fall when the next gust of wind blows through. Pruning of crowns should be minimal, but damaged roots should be pruned to remove rough tears so that the remaining roots will fit back in the hole. Once a tree has been properly uprighted, it will need watering daily, just as if it were a transplanted tree. Additionally, most experts agree that stump removal is not done purely for aesthetic reasons. Ants and termites love to eat rotting stumps, which could cause a hazard if the stump is close to your home or in areas where children play.
And don’t be so quick to chop down every tree that shows signs of damage. Gonzales advises homeowners to let the damaged trees lie dormant in the winter and to keep a close eye on them again in the spring. “That’s when their fresh growth will begin to show,” he says. “You might not be able to tell now if it’s able to be salvaged, but the springtime will tell you for sure.”
Many people are taking the approach of “a good pine is a dead pine” right now, since the tall timbers were the primary source of damage to area roofs, fences and personal property. But removing every pine from your lot can be quite costly, and is probably unnecessary. “If your pines look good and aren’t leaning toward the house, they’re probably okay,” asserts Gonzales. He notes that homeowners should use common sense in this area. “If a pine tree lived through winds over 150 miles per hour during Hurricane Katrina, they withstood the worst already.”
One last caveat: If you do plan to hire a tree service to remove downed trees and stumps, always insure that their insurance and license is officially authorized in the state of Louisiana. Ask your homeowner’s insurance carrier for their preferred user list of companies that they have dealt with successfully. “With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of your property and your personal safety, make sure that you take your time in deciding which company you should hire,” warns Peter Gerstenberger, senior advisor for safety and compliance with the Tree Care Industry Association. The group warns against companies who solicit business by going door to door, demand payment in advance or fail to produce a written estimate or work order.
And always get multiple estimates for a given job. It’s sad to say, but many people are being taken advantage of in their time of need. Gonzales has seen estimates for the same job quoted at $2,800 by one company and $10,000 by another.
“It’s a good idea to hire someone local who is reliable and has done the majority of their work in this area,” he says. “Local companies won’t price gouge you today, because they are trying to build a client base for tomorrow.”
Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees can contact the Tree Care Industry Association at www.treecareindustry.org.
|
Home | Advertising Information | Archive of Past Issues | Contact Us
