The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.
The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.
From: Chris Casey and Steve Bambara, Extension Entomologists
The December 5th ice storm damaged many trees across the state. In addition to ice damage, North Carolina trees have been subject to flooding and drought stress during the last few years. These can predispose trees to problems such as borers and scale insects. Open wounds are entry points for disease and insects. They may also create stresses upon trees that can promote insect problems. Because cold weather is upon us, diseases and insects are not as likely to attack trees until spring. The secondary effects of the damaged trees may not actually show up for a year or several years. These wounds will not heal, especially large ones. They will, however, eventually callous and cover over if not too large. Trees with poor shape and those that develop interior rot or insect tunneling will be more vulnerable to future storm damage.
What to do:
Continue to monitor trees for borers and scale insects, which often prefer stressed trees. Promote tree health through proper fertilization, irrigation, and pruning. There are also trees and shrubs that did not lose limbs but were under heavy ice loads for more than a day. This could potentially lead to bark injury and splitting, so even trees with no obvious limb damage should be watched as well.
Most mature trees with tops broken out will not recover their shape. This is especially true of the loblolly pines. It may be best to remove them anytime before they leaf out or begin new growth in Spring. If this is a major shade tree for your house, you may prefer to hire a professional to partially reshape the tree and do some replanting in anticipation of having to remove the tree within ten to fifteen years.
Smaller trees may be able to be reshaped and retrained to a new central leader. Decide whether it is better to nurse along a damaged tree or just replace it. Ask yourself which would look better in ten years. At this time, we have no recommendations for chemical pesticide treatments as protectants against potential insect damage for damaged trees and shrubs. This might only be considered an option on a very high value tree after consultation with a certified tree expert. Reevaluate the type of plant material used in your landscape. Some trees such as certain ornamental pear trees have limb crotch angles that weak and have wood that is very brittle.
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on December 19, 2002 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.
