The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, with mid-August through mid-October being defined as the peak months. Many Cape Cod residents and visitors alike can recall the last hurricane to make landfall in New England, Hurricane Bob. Bob impacted Rhode Island, and later Massachusetts on August 19, 1991 as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. The extreme winds were enough to send all of Cape Cod off the grid. Power outages were extensive, and in many cases would take days to repair. While many improvements have been made with Cape Cod’s, infrastructure, emergency planning and disaster response since Bob, its still a good idea to be prepared for extreme weather. 

Are Your Cape Cod Trees Ready for a Tropical Storm or Hurricane?

Cape Cod is no stranger to high winds and tropical storms and the best time to prepare for a storm is before disaster strikes. While you can’t avoid unpredictable weather patterns, there are several precautions you can take to ensure your landscape and property is prepared for impending storms. 

• Tree Pruning to Maintain Structural Integrity
  Healthy trees are much more resilient to the effect of high winds and severe weather. Trees that are in a state of decay, diseased or weak pose a significant risk to your property and safety. Whether its a matter of removing diseased or storm-damaged branches or regular pruning to thin the tree crown and permit new growth and better air circulation, pruning is an important element in ensuring the health and safety of your trees. Take note of weak limbs in the canopy of a tree, broken, dead and damaged limbs can be blown from trees during a storm and become a significant hazard.
• Secure Young and Newly Planted Trees & Shrubs
  Keep your new trees hydrated! Regular watering of newly planted trees will encourage stronger branches and roots, which helps reduce the potential of damage during severe storms or winds. When a storm is forecasted, its a good idea to safeguard your newly planted trees and shrubs. If you have newly planted trees that are still staked, be sure to secure the stake deep in the ground to keep it from tossed or blown over by a heavy gust of wind. If you’ve recently removed stakes from trees planted in recent years, consider re-staking them for a more secure hold.
• Healthy Trees Begin with Healthy Roots
  Proper care and consideration should be taken to ensure the life and longevity of your trees and the best place to start is with a healthy root system. Root collar excavation consists of the removal of dirt and excess mulch to expose the root collar (the part of the tree that flares out at the base) and root system. In instances where soil compaction is prevalent – often occurring in new construction – air spading may be necessary.

What to do After a Storm

After a storm passes, its a good idea to evaluate your property and assess any damages or potential dangers that resulted from high winds or downed trees or limbs. In the instance of downed or damaged trees or hazardous and hanging branches, an arborist should be contacted to safely remove the hazards. In the event a tree falls on your house or other structure on your property, be sure to contact your homeowners insurance agent and they will advise you of your coverage and next steps.

At Alfieri Tree Care, we are advocates for preserving trees with proper arboriculture management and practices. Solutions like plant health care and professional pruning can go a long way to ensure the strength and longevity of your trees. In instances where a tree is already is a irreversible state of decline, or its not economical to try and preserve the tree, Alfieri Tree Care is available to provide safe tree removal services.

Oftentimes preventative steps can be taken to keep your trees healthy and protect your investment from a variety of pests, diseases and environmental stressors. Its important to take steps to ensure the proper care and timely maintenance for your trees to avoid costly damage to your property in the future.

Other Resources:

NOAA National Hurricane Preparedness

Barnstable County Emergency Preparedness