How to save small uprooted trees

Hurricanes & Trees

HURRICANE

INFORMATION

SERIES

Made available by:

Visit our Web site: www.lsuagcenter.com

Louisiana State University Agricultural CenterWilliam B. Richardson, ChancellorL. J. Guedry, Executive Vice ChancellorLouisiana Agricultural Experiment StationWilliam H. Brown, Vice Chancellor and DirectorLouisiana Cooperative Extension ServicePaul D. Coreil, Vice Chancellor and Director

2/02 New

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of Congress of May 8and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agricul-ture. The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service provides equal opportunities inprograms and employment.

Barton Joffrion, County Agent, Terrebonne

SAVING SMALL UPROOTED TREES

STEPS TO FOLLOW

STEP 1 Cover the exposed roots imme-diately to keep them from drying outuntil you can make arrangements torestore the tree to the upright position.Use wet burlap, hay, sand, mud, plas-tic sheets or any convenient material toretard drying.

- Just before you right the tree, cutaway any shattered roots.

STEP 2 Upright the tree. If the tree issmall enough, upright it yourself. If it’stoo large, try block and tackle, winch,etc., equipment. When lifting, protectthe bark with padding where pressureis applied to the trunk, branch, etc.Look at the root system carefully. Youmay need to prune or cut back part ofthe crown to compensate for root loss.

STEP 3 After the tree is restored to itsoriginal position, install guy wires tohold it in place until the root systemregenerates. Use at least three guywires. Use a short length of rubber

hose around each wire to protect barkfrom injury. Fasten the wires securelyto stakes in the ground.* Check guy wires often so they do notgrow and cut into the trunk. Wires mayhave to be left in place for a year ortwo.

STEP 4 Water the tree well. Waterslowly for a long period. Watch for in-sects and disease pressure. Small treescan generally be saved if you follow thesteps above. Trees with a diameter of

10 inches ormore are oftentoo heavy to up-right and usuallydo not survive.Be careful whenhandling trees.

After a storm, you may encounter treesthat have been wholly uprooted withthe rootball intact. Sometimes you maybe able to upright small trees and savethem.