Wondering when it will rain? In East Tennessee, you probably won’t have to wait long. Last year was the rainiest in recorded history in the Tennessee River Valley, according to data compiled by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Heavy rains have become rather common in the Johnson City area, with flooding problems even occurring from time to time. Repeated heavy rains can threaten your home in more ways than one; they can affect the integrity of your trees. Promier Tree wants to make you aware of how saturated ground can threaten your trees as well as your property.
Here’s What Can Happen to Your Trees During Heavy Rains
If the ground becomes too soaked, your trees lose some of their strength to stand up to high winds the next time a major storm system moves through the area. This can be true even for older, larger trees—the type that can be especially devastating to people and buildings if they fall.
Extreme changes in weather contribute to the vulnerability of trees due to saturated ground. If a very rainy time is preceded by a period of drought, your trees become brittle during the drought. Then, the influx of rain leads to a sudden period of new growth, adding weight to branches that have become brittle, making a mishap more likely.
Any tree is only as strong as its roots when it comes to being affected by saturated ground. A root system provides nutrients to the tree, but also stabilization. The stronger the root base, the more rigorous your tree will be even during heavy winds and major snow events that can add huge amounts of weight to the branch structure. If the ground becomes saturated due to heavy rains, your trees’ root system lose some of that stability.
Your tree actually can begin to suffocate due to ground saturation. Ideally, the soil matrix for a tree should consist of no more than 25 percent water, and 25 percent air space. If water pours into the ground from heavy rain and alters this matrix significantly, the tree loses its air space, literally beginning to drown. This drowning does not happen quickly, but it can kill a tree. Warning signs include leaves thinning, turning yellow or becoming smaller; a diminished tree canopy, or the development of water sprouts on the trunk or lower limbs.
Prevention Is Your Best Defense Against Tree Failure
As a property owner, whether you have a home or a business, you need to be aware of the trees on your land and their health. Trees should be checked for evidence of decay such as fungal growth on the tree trunk, raised roots, dead branches, or noticeable cracks in the structure of the tree.
A professionally trained and ISA-certified arborist in Johnson City like the ones on staff at Promier Tree has the knowledge to identify signs of your tree suffocating, or diseases like root rot that can threaten the stability of your tree. Don’t wait until it’s too late, and there’s been a catastrophic uprooting or collapse that risks people and property. Schedule an evaluation for your trees today by one of our expert arborists by calling (423) 765-2626 if you live in the Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee areas.