Let’s talk about wind damage. If you didn’t sustain wind
damage to your landscape, you are extremely lucky. It was fortunate these high
winds occurred early in the season and many trees were not yet full of leaves.
If it had been a few weeks later, the damage would have been worse.
damage to your landscape, you are extremely lucky. It was fortunate these high
winds occurred early in the season and many trees were not yet full of leaves.
If it had been a few weeks later, the damage would have been worse.
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| Ornamental Plum, wind damage to the leaves |
New leaves just coming out were shredded by these winds
or new young shoots were broken. You might not see the damage at first but
after a few days the damage will turn brown. Seeing this, you might think
insects or diseases. Don’t worry. Some light pruning will remove the damage and
new growth will cover it in less than a week.
or new young shoots were broken. You might not see the damage at first but
after a few days the damage will turn brown. Seeing this, you might think
insects or diseases. Don’t worry. Some light pruning will remove the damage and
new growth will cover it in less than a week.
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| Wind damage to persimmon on the lower leaves while the new leaves (closest) that emerged after the wind are undamaged |
Branches and trunks of trees split or broke. If you think
you can bandage the damage, think again. If the wood inside of the split has
dried, even for a couple of hours, joining the two together will not heal the
split. It’s a goner.
you can bandage the damage, think again. If the wood inside of the split has
dried, even for a couple of hours, joining the two together will not heal the
split. It’s a goner.
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| Peach wind damage to the leaves. |
You might be able to salvage the tree by cutting below the
break on the trunk. See if it will begin suckering beneath this cut. Make the
cut about 1 foot above where you want new branches to emerge.
break on the trunk. See if it will begin suckering beneath this cut. Make the
cut about 1 foot above where you want new branches to emerge.
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| Corn wind damage blown over |
If a branch split, cut it back to a side branch. Whether
it will grow back or how it will grow back depends on the kind of break, where
it occurred and the type of tree. If it is aesthetically important to the
landscape, remove it and replant. It could take years before it will look good
again unless it is a fast grower.
it will grow back or how it will grow back depends on the kind of break, where
it occurred and the type of tree. If it is aesthetically important to the
landscape, remove it and replant. It could take years before it will look good
again unless it is a fast grower.
Leave shredding and
breakage also happens to vegetables. Most can be pruned, a very light
application of fertilizer and watered to help them regrow.