Storm Damage to Landscape Trees: Prediction, Prevention, Treatment

Gary R. Johnson, Associate Professor, Urban and Community Forestry
Ben Johnson, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Department of Forest Resources

Copyright ©  1999  Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The Damage

In the upper Midwest, wind and ice storms are common, and often cause tremendous damage to individual trees and urban forests. These storms can cause weakly attached branches or leaders to separate and rip trees apart.

Trees with stem girdling roots or inadequate root systems may blow over or break off at the ground line.

Whatever the case, these effects can cause both personal and property damage.

Figure 1. Tree losses from tornadoes are usually catastrophic. Often, sentimental value connected to trees is lost and is not likely to be replaced with just ancomponents new tree. Photo by Gordon Herbst

Figure 2. Trees often split open at weak attachments and multiple leaders. Photo by Diana Bolander

Figure 3. Roots cut during construction may leave trees unstable and more prone to windthrow. Photo by Gary R. Johnson

Figure 4. Personal and property damage often occurs with severe storms. Photo by Diana Bolander

Figure 5. Economic losses frequently reach high levels after storm damage has occurred. Losses include the cost of the collection and disposal of wood "waste" that is generated from the damaged trees. Photo by Jim Hermann

Next section: Prediction

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