Sentinels of the Storm

Where do we find it, that point of no return? At that moment, when strained to the limit, cords taught, they snap, breaking connections, severing stability, or sundering root from soil. Can you predict when trees will fail? Can you save them when they do? What happens in a tree during a storm? What can we learn from these trees and how can we support our urban and rural forests by adapting what and how we plant after a storm?

Trees in our landscapes are overwhelmingly beautiful, and resourceful, providing economic, ecological, and social benefits. The connotations of the hearty steadfast nature of trees are abundant in our culture and language. We map our family connections in a family tree, and we have many descriptive words that allude to the value of trees in our view of the world.

The very nature of a tree’s life, the choice to remain in one location and reach deep into the soil and up to the clouds above is something that exhibits a permanence in time and geography. As humans that exist in the shady canopy of these timeless giants we develop strong connections with trees. A childhood spent swinging in the boughs staring up at dappled light or reclining against smooth bark while days pass there are strong bonds that develop between us and our quiet observational sentinels. This is evident with the sheer number of calls that we get following storms about how to care for trees, save trees that are damaged or what to plant that will provide shelter and safety for the next generation.

In these days following disaster, memories fresh, debris piled and waiting, the picking up, dusting off and moving forward begins. Communities gather and share stories or resources, support their neighbors while ideology sits idle on the sidelines for a while. Our resilience is a mirror, a reminder of the genetic predisposition of all living things to survive. Trees are no less than genius examples of this evolved capacity for shouldering on.

While we may collectively feel remorse at the loss of trees in our communities, or shudder at the cost of tree debris removal, or even feel afraid when looking into neighboring branches, it is important to remember that many of our urban trees did not fail. That begs the question, what can we learn from these sedentary survivors that were resilient to the tempest’s wind and rain? When the right tree is planted properly in the right location it holds fast in soil, branches may reach their limit, leaves may be lost, but overwhelmingly the tree survives. In the following sections we will take a look at the unique attributes that trees have adapted to survive a storm and then look at how our decisions can help newly planted trees survive the storms to come.

How trees adapt to the storm

Leaves and Branches

Branches flung high, grasping for the sunlight, in storms become masts holding aloft leafy sails. To save branches, trees may furl their leaves like the tulip poplar, curling into aerodynamic shapes or cast them asunder, allow them to tatter, shedding their photosynthesis factories like so much confetti. Branches may break strategically, at joints or fissures, points of past trauma, allowing the trees to enclose and protect the wound. Covering the site of breakage, callus wood, a mass of parenchyma cells, like playdough piled and not yet given shape initially forms to protect the tree. As the cells receive signals from hormones and the environment, they can become new vessels, bark, or buds, finding their shape and function newly molded by chemistry and circumstance.

Roots

Many tree species have a tap root that is the evolution of the first root to form out of a seed that anchors the young plant in place. In species that are from locales where there are frequent wind events these tap roots extend deep into soil and rock with the webs of roots extending out around the circumference. This counterbalance establishes a foothold for these trees and prevents them from being uprooted in the storm. Some of the trees that we plant in our landscapes are shallow rooting or have been established from cuttings or air layers, so they do not have a tap root. In response to prevailing winds, roots break, and grow, enhancing the overall root mass on the leeward side of the tree, while the roots on the windward side develop shapes like I-beams. Naturally engineering resistance to the forces of the predominant winds. (Reference Link)

How we can give trees the best opportunity

Planting

When planting a tree there are several considerations that can provide the tree with the utmost opportunity to grow and establish itself in your landscape without becoming a problem. Firstly, the selection of an appropriate species should be of the utmost importance. Is it a tree that is appropriate for Florida? What is the soil, water, and maintenance requirements for the tree? Are there pathogens or pests that are a problem with this tree? When selecting a tree, one should be incredibly careful not to have a root bound specimen as the tap root has been trained and remains inclined to grow in a circle that prevents it from exploring deep into the soil profile. Knowing and understanding the soil and land you are planting the tree in is also extremely helpful. Is there a compaction layer in the soil due to development? Does this area get seasonably saturated? Is there any infrastructure that would get damaged or inhibit the growth of the tree? UF/IFAS has newly available tool to help you choose the best tree for your landscape: https://floridatrees.ifas.ufl.edu/FloridaTrees/ You can select many site-specific characteristics and desired traits which will generate a list of suitable tree species for your area. Check out this blog for more information on selecting and planting trees in your landscape.

Maintenance

Just as humans need regular checkups, trees benefit from continued care as they mature. Some trees in urban spaces will need to be structurally pruned to allow for pedestrian or vehicle clearance, others may exhibit structures that could be problematic for stability or wind resistance. Urban environments are stressful, air and water pollution, drought, poor soil conditions, human traffic, intense heat and more, all contribute to the potential environmental stressors that impact tree health. Watching for signs of stress such as wilting or yellowing leaves, insect damage, bark shedding, flower deformation or branch dieback can proactively address a problem before the tree is too far gone. In times of excessive drought, it may be necessary to provide temporary irrigation. Some soils may need supplementation with compost or specific nutrients. To ensure that you are providing the necessary long-term care for your tree, which will hopefully long outlive you, hiring a certified arborist with which you build a relationship is highly recommended. If you need help finding a certified arborist, read this blog for more information.

Trees are beautiful and unique, columns of hope reaching from their rooted feet to the aspirational sky above. As humans, we look to trees for inspiration, shade, memory, and that life giving gift of oxygen. If you have questions about how to support and care for the trees in our communities, please reach out to alyvinson@ufl.edu and sign up here to receive monthly emails all about trees.