By Michelle Maga

Mother Nature has wielded her massive pruning shears and the damage left behind is nothing short of dumbfounding.

Limbs the size of small trees lie on the ground, leaving behind gaping wounds. Trees are bent nearly to the breaking point.

But the good news is that trees are amazing in their resilience and ability to recover. When you are able to get to those that can be saved, here are some pointers to help them recover:

• Gently lift branches out of the snow. Never beat the snow off of them by hitting the top of the branch.
• Trees such as Aspen and other poplars are very flexible. The tops may bend completely over to touch the ground. It is crucial to straighten deciduous and evergreen trees as quickly as possible and stake them as straight as you can. Once the cambium layer beneath the bark has been left "stretched out" for too long, it is very difficult to get the tree to grow straight again.
• Arborvitae and other evergreen columnar types may have opened up with the snow. Gently gather the branches together and wind plastic green tape around them to tie them back together. I have several that I’ve treated this way. Eventually they regained their shape. If they are towering specimens, you could have a challenge with this.
• Large wounds from broken limbs will recover over time. Painting the wound with asphalt emulsion is of no value and in fact can trap moisture and increase the chance of decay. It is better to leave the wound open to dry in the air. The tree will eventually form a callus over the wound.
• Trees that have lost more than two-thirds of their canopy may struggle to survive. You can try to reshape the tree and wait to see how it does over the summer, but the odds are not in its favor. Plus, it may never achieve its former grace or beauty. You may have to make the tough decision to remove and replace it.
• If a tree has lost a part of a limb, cut it back to a lateral branch or remove the limb back to the trunk. If it is a large limb, make the first cut on the underside of the branch about a third of the way through. Make the next cut on the top. This will keep the limb from tearing. If you remove the entire branch, cut it back to the ridge near the trunk. There should be a small stub protruding.
• Trees that have split down the center will not survive and should be removed.

It is heartbreaking to look at the damage left behind by the storms. Many of us have treasured older Jeffries and Piñon that are severely damaged or lost. Take it slowly. Use great care with chainsaws. Be sure to wear protective gear.

Later this year, replace with a new specimen and perhaps it will assuage some of the sadness.

This is part of the April 01, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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