Tree care: Derecho damages not only crops, but also woodlands - Farm Progress
In reviewing the damage, experts identified some common situations leading to failures. Among the top causes were poor pruning practices, trunk and limb damage from vehicles and equipment, and a mismatch between a tree species and its site. Billy Beck, assistant professor and Extension forestry specialist at Iowa State University, recently shared his firsthand experience with the aftermath of the storm, highlighted the root causes of many tree failures, and shared insights on maintaining trees for vitality — the best way to weather future storms. Beck’s big messages for response, recovery and planning are practice chain saw safety, assess and address, and match the species to the site. Safety first — always “In the aftermath of a storm like this, the first response is to make things safe; clear downed limbs and trees from structures, utility lines and roads; and relieve pressures that broken limbs may be placing on remaining healthy sections of a tree,” Beck says. “Unfortunately, t...