Experts Advise Not To Hurry In Repairing Ice-Damaged Trees

One in 10 trees on the North Side was either damaged or felled by last week’s ice storm.

In the Logan, Audubon Park and West Central neighborhoods, trees lay like a child’s Lincoln logs across roads, on cars and houses.

But tree experts say homeowners shouldn’t get into a rush to prune or remove trees unless they are so dangerously broken that more branches might fall.

If ever a situation called for professional help, this is it.

Arborists said damaged trees can be saved with the help of someone who knows what they are doing.

Homeowners should hire a professional arborist, especially those who are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, parks officials said.

Untrained workers with chainsaws will probably roam the city in coming months seeking business, but they should be avoided, said Tonie Fitzgerald, Spokane County extension agent.

“Surgical precision (in pruning) determines whether a tree will heal over,” she said.

Rich Baker, a certified arborist, said, “The decision to remove a tree should be based on a competent opinion.”

Trees should not be topped, a practice that involves cutting off all the long branches. Topped trees are susceptible to rotting and insects, and will become more dangerous when they regrow.

Taylor Bressler, city park maintenance manager, said it is possible to wait until spring comes to see how much life is left in a tree before making a decision on pruning or removal.

In the past two years, city parks officials have been promoting a new urban forestry program to protect the health of the city’s trees.

The Logan neighborhood steering committee was near completion of a tree-planting program when the storm hit. Neighborhood leader Clyde Timboe didn’t know how many of the 85 saplings survived the storm.

“We are hoping the young ones didn’t get demolished,” said Timboe. “But what can we say, it was an act of god.”

Young trees also broke near the West Central Community Center. “It’s really sad,” said neighborhood leader Paul Soper. “They got really whacked.”

Neighborhood steering committees can choose to replace the trees, but none have addressed the issue this soon.

Ponderosa pines, which are adapted to severe weather, fared better than Douglas firs that saw their boughs stripped.

Deciduous trees that grow fast or have soft wood were damaged the most, including cottonwoods, black locusts, sycamores, willows and silver maples.

Oak trees held up well because they are strong, but also bend.

, DataTimes