When it comes to hurricanes, to paraphrase the adage, “June is too soon, July-standby, August-a must, September — remember, then remember again October and November because it is not over until December!” We have been very fortunate in Hawaii to have been free of storms this year, but not so in the southern United States.
When it comes to hurricanes, to paraphrase the adage, “June is too soon, July-standby, August-a must, September — remember, then remember again October and November because it is not over until December!” We have been very fortunate in Hawaii to have been free of storms this year, but not so in the southern United States.
What we learned from hurricanes Harvey and Irma is the major damage done from actual winds was to trees such as oak, mahogany and other broad-leaved varieties. On the other hand, palms such as coconut, royal, cabbage palms, Mexican fan palms, pritchardias and scores of others survived the storm winds. Many will tolerate flooding with little damage as well. If the soil was so soggy that the palms tipped over, they were easy to replant and recover.
Since there are thousands of species, the question is which palms can be used to create your tropical landscape with a minimum of storm damage and care?
The Hawaii Island Palm Society is ready to help folks answer that question. According to Tim Brian, the society is inviting the general public to learn all about palms during an educational event from 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 24 at the Panaewa Zoo. Rare palm seeds and young trees will be given out to lucky participants. For more information, contact Bob Gibbens at 333-5626.
When it comes to trees other than palms, remember they are important elements of parks, streets and home gardens. Do not forget they supply oxygen, sequester carbon and in general are helping to minimize the negative effects of global climate change. However, they do require proper maintenance to ensure they make it through stormy weather. It is always important to inspect your trees for dead branches that seem to be ready to fall. A gust of wind can snap an arm-size branch from a tree and send it at missile speed through a picture window.
A low-hanging branch over a roof can wreak havoc. Powerful winds can turn the limb into a tool of destruction and easily remove shingles. Removing dead and out-of-place limbs is a good idea even if there is no storm.
Fan-like fungus growing on the side of a tree trunk indicates rotten spots that need attention. A hole made by poor pruning, damage from earlier storms or the gouge of an auto bumper can start rotten spots.
Remove decayed trees that are too weak to hold up under the strain of a storm. This action will save you grief later.
Actually, even a 100-mph wind is not as dangerous as it sounds if necessary measures are taken before the wind reaches gale force.
If your home is located in an area that might be flooded, you’ll be given ample notice to evacuate hours before the storm reaches your area. Otherwise, there is no safer place than in a well-built home.
As soon as the storm passes it is a good idea to inspect the trees and other plants around the house. Usually, all the plants will show signs of wind damage. With a little trimming, propping, resettling of root systems, fertilizing and watering, nearly all plants that were shaken loose from the ground can be salvaged.
After hurricane season, it is a good idea to consider root pruning as a way to manage those larger trees. If in doubt about what to do, you can contact a certified arborist to assess the situation and correct it.
Many of our tropical trees grow rampant with extensive root systems. That is why we prune to keep them from getting out of hand, but let’s prune the right way. Late spring and summer are not the best times for heavy pruning since shade is at a premium during those hot days ahead. Now is a good time as the days are getting shorter and the sun’s rays less intense.
Here is a scheme to keep lawns and flowerbeds healthy, too. The trouble with roots of many big trees such as banyan species and monkeypods is they are too greedy. Their roots will fill a flowerbed or a new lawn in just a few years after the trees were planted.
When this happens, you can be sure they are not doing the smaller plants any good. Very likely, the tree roots are competing so fiercely for available water and nutrients in the soil that grass, shrubs and flower roots suffer.
The first step is to dig into the soil alongside the lawn or flowerbed where the trees grow. After just a few spades full, you can begin to see how many roots grow through the area. If you find many little roots, you can make a trench between the lawn or bed and the tree.
Secondly, annual cultivation in the rooting area will at least keep the topsoil free of tree roots that compete for water and nutrients. Thirdly, choose plants for the understory that will tolerate the shade and competing tree roots, such as philodendron, ruellia, mondo and other ground covers. Vegetable gardens are best in sunny areas free of tree root competition.
In conclusion, remember that trees are vital to making urban life healthier for us physically, mentally and even spiritually. Forest fires, storms and drought are destroying our forests on a global scale. On the other hand, every time we plant a tree, we help minimize the effects of global warming.
So, enjoy those beautiful trees in your garden by maintaining them correctly. On a grander scale, work with Hawaii County and state government to plant more trees in parks, roads and highways.
We depend on the tourist industry. Visitors to our islands as well as residents appreciate our beautiful landscapes. Without trees, this would be just another barren desert island.