How to Prevent Your Trees From Toppling

    By Clint Swett, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

    Jan. 8--Howling winds took their toll on the Sacramento area's tree population last week, and strong gusts Tuesday could topple even more.

    But there are some methods residents can use to prevent their valuable trees from falling victim to winds or storms later this winter.

    The most obvious sign of a vulnerable tree is if it's leaning noticeably and if the ground around it has heaved upward, said Luanne Leineke, a certified arborist and stewardship coordinator with the Sacramento Tree Foundation.

    If that's the case, trees with trunks less than four inches in diameter can be propped up with two-by-fours with the ends cushioned to avoid damaging the bark, until an arborist can evaluate the situation, she said.

    Large, mature trees that are leaning and show signs of the earth heaving around the roots may be in imminent danger of falling. Until an expert can inspect it, "don't park underneath it, don't walk around it, stay away from it," Leineke said.

    One way to prepare a tree to withstand high winds is to prune it appropriately, she said. But homeowners shouldn't attempt to prune any branches they can't reach with a pole saw while standing on the ground.

    Reducing the tree's crown by pruning away the largest and heaviest branches helps relieve the pressure on the tree, she said. If the tree is leaning in one direction, try to cut away branches on that side, she said.

    Also, a thinner crown allows the wind to pass more easily through the branches.

    When trimming branches, the pruner should cut back the limb to the point where it joins a smaller branch at least one-third the diameter of the heavier branch. The smaller, remaining branch then has a chance to grow into a stronger limb.

    Advice on pruning and other tree care tips from the Tree Foundation are available at www.sactree.com

    -----

    To see more of The Sacramento Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sacbee.com/.

    Copyright (c) 2008, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

    Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

    For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.