How to care for your trees in stormy weather


1. Regularly check your trees to ensure that damage has not occurred. Prevent newly planted trees from being rocked backwards and forwards and becoming loose, stake them firmly in place where possible.

2. After stormy weather, check for abrasion on the bark caused by rubbing against the stake or loose ties. You may need to reposition the the stake or re-tie the ties to prevent further abrasion.

3. Replace any damaged stakes to ensure the tree remains secure.

4. Re-stabilise wind blasted small stock that is not staked by treading the soil around it.

5. On windy sites, two or three stakes can be inserted opposite each other, or equally spaced around the tree outside of the root area, and secured to the trunk by long ties or a timber crossbar and tie.



8. Where plastic tree guards have been placed around a tree ensure they are not filled with water, by raising its base above the soil level. Also check that it is not so tight to the tree that water cannot escape.

9. Mulching can reduce compaction and soil erosion that can often follow heavy rain. Look to see if you are able to improve the drainage of the land in preparation for future rainfall

10. If the tree has died due to waterlogging, replace with an appropriate species that tolerates wet soils, for example alder, willow or poplar.

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