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January 25

Get trees trimmed weeks before a hurricane hits

Preparing your trees

A hurricane can turn a shade tree from backyard friend to monster. Falling limbs and flying debris from trees often add to injuries and damage during severe storms. Things you can do to lessen the danger:

Inspect your trees every spring and fall. Look closely for heavy limbs that hang over homes, cross or rub together. Limbs that form a large V also could potentially pose a risk because one of the arms may weaken and snap in high winds.

•Consult a certified arborist trained to spot mistletoe and other parasitic growths that can weaken a tree. County extension offices usually maintain a list of arborists.

Trim canopies to open the center of a tree, improving wind flow through its branches. If a canopy is too dense, the branches and leaves can act like a sail on a ship, catching gales that can uproot or topple a tree.

Copyright © 2015, Hartford Courant
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