Living in parts of Australia that are highly susceptible to bushfires means having to be on high alert during the summer. With proper measures in place to mitigate these fires, you can survive the risk with your home and garden intact. However, trees tend to be at most risk of permanent damage when engulfed by flames. And although most people assume that tree felling is the only solution, this perception is not entirely based on fact.
The reality is, depending on the severity of the fire, the trees could merely acquire superficial damage in the form of singeing. But on the other hand, the tree could become structurally compromised if it is wholly consumed. So what should you do when your trees are damaged by bushfire?
Tree repairs to mitigate fire damage
Since growing a tree from a sapling will take a considerable amount of time, chances are your first instinct will be to save the trees in your yard. When the tree is engulfed by bushfire, the main type of damage that happens is complete dehydration of the tree from the crown to the roots. Thus, one of the first measures to take will be focusing on rehydrating the roots by saturating them with water for a period. This step can easily be done by placing a hose directly into the topsoil and letting water flow at a steady rate so that there is no risk of drowning the roots.
The second type of tree repairs to embark on will be protecting the tree from further dehydration. If the tree has lost its leaf-canopy, it will be essential to wrap both its branches as well as the trunk with some fabric to shelter it from direct sun exposure. Lastly, any badly damaged branches and limbs should be pruned off so that they do not unnecessarily take up nutrition from the tree.
Tree felling to mitigate fire damage
Saving trees that are fire damaged may be ideal, but in some scenarios, the scorching is so extensive that leaving the tree poses the risk of potential injury and property loss. If you cannot discern whether a tree can be saved through hydrating and shelter, it is essential to have an arborist assess the situation. Any trees that have their trunk severely compromised will have to be felled, as they will not be stable enough to survive the fire damage. Additionally, if the damaged tree is close to electrical lines or structures, it is best to err on the safe side and opt for tree felling rather than risk a future emergency.
Share20 March 2018
Hey! I'm Keith. Are you looking for tree removal advice? If so you have come to the right place. Last year, I needed some advice about how best to deal with the trees in my yard. One of the trees had started to lean and I was very worried about it. In order to deal with the problem, I called in a professional tree service and asked them to take a look at it. The contractor wasted no time and quickly removed the tree. I was really pleased with the level of service I received and I would like to encourage others to contact their local tree service.