Pruning Storm Damaged Trees

Storms this spring have left many neighborhoods in North Central Kansas with tree damage.   A storm serves as a reminder of just how quickly the situation with trees can change.

Most of the time you have to decide whether a tree can be saved or if it needs to be taken down.

River Valley Extension District Horticulture Agent Kelsey Hatesohl says there's a simple checklist you can follow to help take care of your storm-damaged landscape.

First, Hatesohl says you need to be safe when first checking on your landscape after the storm. 

Make sure to clean up and remove any debris so you don't trip over any of it.

Second, decide whether it is feasible to save the tree.

Third, prune off the broken branches to the next larger branch or the trunk, depending on which limb is broken.  Hatesohl says you want to remove the larger limbs in stages.

If you happen to have damage from any storms and want help deciding what needs to be done with your trees, feel free to contact Hatesohl in the Washington County Office of the River Valley Extension District at (785) 325-2121 or email khatesohl@ksu.edu.