Storm recovery

Spring and summer storms take their toll on landscape plants. Branches may be broken by wind and whole trees uprooted. Lightning strikes to trees can be both spectacular and deadly, though the two don't necessarily go together. The effects of lightning strikes on trees are highly variable. Management of a damaged tree should be based on several factors.

Lightning occurs when long downward chains of negatively charged particles at the base of storm clouds meet vertical streamers of positively charged ions coming up from the ground.  

Severe weather season has begun, with many experiencing damage in trees and landscape plants last week. Managing the effects of tornadic winds and hail is necessary to make the landscape safe again and help plants recover.

Damage Assessment
Broken tree limbs or fallen trees, creating dangerous situations in a home landscape. When large trees fall, it’s best to contact an arborist capable of providing emergency tree care in a safe manner while reducing further risk to property.

Cold temperatures, drying sun and wind, road salt, snow and ice can all take a toll on landscape plants during winter. But homeowners can use the strategies below to prevent major damage and minimize winter’s toll. Now, while daytime temperatures are still fairly warm, is the time to prepare your plants for winter.

Fall Watering

Every summer storms roll across the Great Plains, and this year has been no exception with high winds leaving damage in their wake, but many homeowners are unsure what to do about storm damage or the best techniques to minimize long-term effects in their trees.

Floods cause damage to trees in two main ways – physical and physiological. The severity of damage is determined by many different factors, including the tree species, beginning health of the tree, length of flooding event, depth of the water, amount of soil removed or deposited over the tree’s root system and time of year flooding occurs. Generally, broadleaved trees tolerate flooding better than conifers, such as pine, spruce and fir.

Nebraskans have seen their share of severe weather in recent weeks and as a result many landscape plants have been damaged by high winds and hail.