A month has passed since West Windsor was hit with a significant storm but the hurricane season is far from over. It is therefore timely to remind residents what they should and should not do when their trees are damaged by storms:
DO stay far away from downed power lines, cables or anything they may be touching –– particularly metal fences, puddles, other trees, and vehicles that may be electrified.
DO assume all power lines and cables are live.
DON’T touch or try to prune a broken branch that is within 10 feet of a live power line.
DO report blocked roadways and house damage promptly to local police/emergency services.
DON’T try to clean up storm damage on your own if there is any risk of injury.
DO put up with a large hanging branch until a qualified and properly equipped arborist is available.
DO avoid scam artists who show up with chain saws and try to take advantage of you after a storm. The Township’s Shade Tree Commission is exploring the potential to offer a compilation of certified arborists online as a consumer protection service to residents.
DO prune stubs of broken branches in the approved manner –– close to the trunk or main stem but not so that you damage nearby bark. Avoid “coat hooks.” Repair damaged bark by trimming.
DON’T block street drains with branches while waiting for yard waste collection.
DON’T attempt to restore the shape of a tree that has suffered the loss of its main stem by pruning lateral branches. Consult a qualified arborist who understands how the tree will react to damage and pruning.
DO follow up a month or two after a storm to check for and remedy tree damage or decay which may have been hidden by leaves or branches and that could be a hazard in a future storm.
Ronald Slinn
Vice Chair, West Windsor
Shade Tree Commission
