Downed trees in the Corridor keep landscape services busy

Storms are big business for area tree services.

Jeff Scherf, owner of JC's Tree Service in Cedar Rapids, said he has received enough calls since the torrential rain and wind passed Monday to keep him busy for the next two to three months.

'I've probably received between 150 to 175 calls in 24 hours. My voice mail is full. I can't even get through it because the phone keeps ringing,” he said.

That means he has to prioritize. Trees that are laying on someone's house or car, or that are in danger of falling on a house, are first in line. Everyone else just has to wait, he said.

He's also prioritizing trees that are coming up by their roots.

'Because of all the moisture we've had recently, the weight of the tree can pull the tree right out of the soil,” he said.

That tree then could fall on a house or fence.

Jenn Smith, owner of Arbor Tree Service in Cedar Rapids, said homeowners should look for ground that has lifted slightly around the base of the tree. If there is humped soil around the tree, it could indicate the tree is starting to uproot.

Both Smith and Scherf said some damaged trees can be saved, but they need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Property owners should look for stressed areas in the trees - places that may be cracked or twisted. That kind of damage could bring limbs down in the future.

Any tree with a split in its trunk also is a danger.

Trees with damage might be fine for now, but they could lose branches or come down entirely when the next storm rolls through. Broken and hanging limbs are also an issue.

Scherf talked to The Gazette while on her way to an assessment.

'I probably have 100 assessments to go do today. I just can't keep up,” she said.

She advised homeowners to make sure the tree service they call has insurance to cover any other property damage that may occur when removing a tree or branches.

Paul Tauke, bureau chief and state forester for Forestry Services at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said if trees have lost 60 percent or more of their branches, it will be difficult to maintain them in good health.

'Most homeowners don't have the equipment to deal with large issues. Some try to do it themselves, but that's usually where a lot of accidents come in,” he said.

If damaged trees are oaks, and if they're not in immediate danger of falling, pruning should wait until after Oct. 1 to avoid spreading oak wilt, he said.

Open wounds on oak trees can leave the tree vulnerable to spores and beetles that spread the disease.

He doesn't normally recommend using pruning paint, but open wounds on oak trees can be covered with a non-tar-based pruning paint, available at many garden and hardware stores.

Homeowners can also use light-colored latex paint. Dark-colored paint absorbs heat and can damage the surrounding tissue.

Tauke offered advice for homeowners hoping to avoid tree damage down the road.

'One of the best ways to avoid storm damage is to utilize good pruning techniques when the trees are younger,” he said.

People can find more tree care advice at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/