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When it rains heavily, why do trees often fall?

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Connor Tree Service LLC
When it rains heavily, why do trees often fall?

Let's speak about how much soil moisture there is, what you can do to get a better understanding of this situation, and how you can protect your trees as effectively as possible.

 

The Effects of Soils That Are Completely Saturated On Plants


When your soil becomes oversaturated, the water in the soil displaces the oxygen, which can be harmful to plant growth. This places a strain on the tree because in order to function correctly, tree roots require oxygen. Your trees will suffer both immediate and long-term consequences as a direct result of the waterlogging of the earth.

 

Implications in the Short-Term


The roots of the tree are going to feel the effects of too much moisture in the earth in the short term.

The roots of a tree serve as the trunk's anchors. Therefore, when there is a windstorm, those roots support the tree despite the tugging and pressing that is caused by the wind.


However, when the soil is so saturated that it almost resembles a soup, it loses its strength, and the roots of the plant are more likely to slide through the soil. If powerful winds were to blow after or during massive rainfall, or if the tree is out of equilibrium due to a leaning or asymmetric canopy, this is what can contribute to the tree failing.


Influence on the Long-Term


If there is an accumulation of excess soil moisture near your tree roots over an extended period of time, your ISA Certified Arborist will look for certain signs to determine the effects that this has on your tree.


These signs include:


For instance, you might observe buckling of the soil on one side of a tree that is beginning to lean, which is a sign that the root plate is changing. This can be a warning that the tree is about to fall over. There may also be root death and decay in the roots, which can show up in the tree canopy when the leaves come out thin or when you observe a number of dead or dying limbs. Both of these problems can be caused by a lack of oxygen in the soil. Even the growth of mushrooms at the root of the tree can be an indicator of its impending demise.

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