Summer Storms Bring Down Drought-Damaged Trees In Atlanta
I took this shot from our room at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia. At that period of season it is common that there is a shower nearly every afternoon. The temperatures and the humidity are climbing all day until there is a clearing rainshower.
Kay Gaensler / Kay Gaensler Photography - Creative Commons
With thunderstorms in the forecast for the next several days, experts expect more trees to fall in metro Atlanta.
Paul Pugliese, an agricultural agent with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, says the drought we just got out of is one reason so many trees are falling this year.
“These trees are already weakened, or compromised, from the drought last year. So we are seeing a lot of trees that are falling, or uprooting, more so this year than the average,” Pugliese said.
What if people are worried about the trees on their property?
“Go out and look at where the roots are. If you see any shifting or cracking in the soil around the root plate, which can be anywhere within 6 or 7 feet from the base of that tree, that’s something they need to take seriously,” Pugliese said.
Pugliese says soft-wooded, fast-growing trees — such as Bradford Pear and Leyland Cypress varieties — tend to be vulnerable in windstorms. He recommends not planting these types of trees close to your house or near high-traffic areas.
Atlanta is a city of trees. Many homes are bordered by woods with large pine trees and hardwoods. Pugliese says it is not always wise to remove a tree, especially pine trees that are growing close together.
“If you have a cluster of trees like that, they kind of depend on each other for support. So when they sway in the wind, they are using each other as a kind of buffer against the wind,” Pugliese said.
If you have any questions about trees on your property, call your county extension agent or a certified arborist.
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