If you’ve ever seen a tree toppled down by strong winds while another tree in the same yard survived the storm, you may be wondering, “What’s the reason for the tree falling?”
When it comes to tree uprooting, the roots are always to blame. The root system of a tree has many functions. Its two primary functions are to collect water and nutrients from the soil and to serve as the tree’s anchor, ensuring that the tree remains straight and sturdy.
What Causes A Tree To Fall Over?
There are plenty of reasons why trees fall over. The following are a few of them:
Root Rot
Root rot is a decay that occurs in the root zone if there is prolonged exposure to too much moisture. Armillaria and Phytophthora are two common types of root rot. Furthermore, this damages the tree’s roots, putting it in danger of toppling during a storm with strong winds.
Shallow Roots
When trees are watered improperly, they may grow shallow roots. Besides, only the top portion of the soil receives water from short, frequent watering. This results in your tree’s roots becoming more shallow than they should be. Moreover, trees with shallow roots do not anchor as effectively as those with deeper roots.
Strong Winds
White willow spruce, white pine, and cedar are the tree species most prone to falling due to strong winds. Also, taller trees with bigger canopies are also more vulnerable to “windthrow,” which occurs when the tree’s trunk and canopy act as a lever to uproot the tree. These species also prefer wetter soils, which may increase the risk of a tree falling.
Tree Damage
Similarly, trees that have been damaged are more prone to fall during a storm. This includes trees that have been topped, which may seriously harm your tree’s health. In addition, lightning strikes, damaged limbs, poor trimming, faulty staking, and other factors may all lead to your tree falling.
Soil Quality
The overall health and strength of a tree’s roots are affected by the soil quality, as is the soil’s ability to keep the roots securely anchored. A tree’s ability to send out strong, deeper descending roots is hampered by compacted, clay-heavy soils. Furthermore, roots may decay or develop fungal disease as a result of poor drainage. This reduces the tree’s overall strength.
What Can You Do?
Trees may be prevented in a variety of ways. To begin, you may regularly inspect your trees for root rot and other signs of impending danger. Inspect each tree from the ground up, searching for indications of root or butt rot as you work your way up the trunk toward the crown. And if you have an older tree, examine it at least twice a year, once in the summer while the leaves are still on the tree and again after winter when the leaves have fallen.
Conclusion
All trees are potential hazards. It may look strong, but trees also need extra care, especially when it is near your house. To avoid damages if tree falling occurs, always be aware of the warnings to be safe.