Tree-lined streets in areas like Esplanade Avenue, Magazine Street, Old Metairie, and the Northshore are admired for their beauty and shade, but they can become hazardous during hurricanes, causing property damage and power outages.
David Benton, vice president of Bayou Tree Services, encouraged homeowners to act before hurricane season begins.
“The best thing you can do is call prior to hurricane season starting, get on the list, and then that way you can make an informed decision and not make an impulsive decision on something that may be drastic as to remove a large mature tree in your yard,” Benton said.
Experienced arborists can identify issues that may not be visible to the average person.
“We look at the trees, and when we assess, what we’re looking for is obviously, you know, broken, dead limbs,” said Jessie Mudge, lead arborist at NOLA Tree Solutions. “Not so obviously, we look for a lot of signs of the tree moss or mushrooms growing up the base of the tree, different things like that give us an idea as to the health of the tree.”
Experts warn that improper pruning or over-pruning can increase the risk of damage during storms.
“Once you prune a tree or take them off, you cannot put it back with wood glue. It is gone forever,” said Benton. “Creating too much leverage can cause an otherwise healthy stable limb to fail during a wind event.”
Safety concerns also arise when homeowners attempt tree work themselves. Benton discourages residents from climbing too high on ladders.
“Self-performing tree work is inherently dangerous; it’s always best if you have to go on a ladder to call an arborist,” Benton said.
READ MORE:How to prepare trees on your property for hurricane season
