Good Night Irene!
We all had a good scare as the high winds and heavy rains of Hurricane Irene bore down upon us, but ultimately the landscapes of Westchester and Fairfield counties fared pretty well through the storm. As the clean up progresses those who have cared for their trees properly over the years will find that their trees survived while those who have neglected their trees saw significant damage and windthrows. In the same way that an overabundance of caution and forethought during the lead up to Irene’s arrival prevented many casualties, the proper care of our trees after planting will help them survive such storms for years to come.
A tree is an investment in the future and in many ways the real work has just begun once a tree, shrub, or even a perennial, has been planted. It is important to realize that we control the health and well-being of our plants through proper pruning, feeding, watering, and pest/disease control. By doing things the right way all along you can avoid the pain and expense of hiring a clean up crew later on. Let the perpetual whine of chainsaws in the coming days and weeks remind us to properly care for our trees, and count ourselves lucky that so many survived the storm.
By Daryl Beyers