“When the root is deep, there is no need to fear the storm.”  (African proverb)

During last month’s climate event with winds that were capped at 65-80 mph, many Lake Oswegans questioned the wisdom of that proverb.

With reports of more than 100 trees falling on both public and private land, residents are looking at the trees that our town takes pride in, a little differently. Should we?

The main thing residents need to remember, according to Logan Collier of Bartlett Tree Experts, is that it’s still a relatively small population of trees that did fail. “It’s easy to focus on everything that went wrong,” he explains, “but if you look around, there are still a vast majority of trees still standing.”

Still, there are proactive things residents can do. “Take a breath,” Collier says, “and don’t make any tree decisions based on fear.” Instead he recommends that residents have their trees inspected by a certified arborist, preferably one with a tree risk assessment qualification.

Collier explains that most tree assessments are done considering normal weather conditions, not extreme events like we just saw. Arborists look for things like a change in the lean of the tree or if there’s crackling or bundling of the soil at the base of the tree. Pruning can help increase a tree’s wind resilience if it’s done proactively. Research shows it’s best to reduce the longest branches on the upper third of a Douglas Fir, for example. That’s where the most wind is going to make things happen and create the most leverage.

Another thing residents can do to make their trees healthier and better equipped to deal with storms is to increase their root growth by creating a more fungal based ecosystem around their trunk. By removing grass three times the diameter of the tree’s trunk away from the tree and replacing with mulch, residents give the soil and their tree added nutrients, reduce water evaporation and soil erosion and keep roots at an ideal temperature. Just be sure the mulch is around the tree, not up against it.

While trees are one of our best defenses against the effects of climate change, they also can be victims of climate change as well. Although Douglas Firs have adapted well to our climate, we have been experiencing hotter and drier spells, so residents need to be watering their trees in the summer. Aim for a longer duration at a slow speed so the water has a chance to really saturate the soil.

Despite all the precautions, even healthy trees can fall victim to winds like the ones we saw last month. But cutting them all down isn’t the answer, either. “If there is anything that will help to increase failure in trees it is to start removing them,” Collier explains. “That creates more of a wind tunneling effect that increases the speed of winds which can be even more destructive.”

We have about a dozen Douglas Firs staking claim in our front yard and Collier confirmed the truth of the saying that there is strength in numbers when it comes to trees. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, grouping trees together affords them a degree of mutual protection, root stability and reduction of wind velocity. So if residents have a loner in their yard, they might want to consider giving it some company.

It seems we have to learn to live in our new normal and realize we can’t just take our trees for granted. As mighty as they may look, they need to be maintained and cared for so they can keep providing all the benefits they provide us from curbing climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to improving our mental health. Protecting our canopy and protecting our safety cannot be an either/or question. We need to resolve how we can do both.

Thinking of moving in or out of Lake Oswego? Let us help you. My daughter Riley and I offer you the best in experience, service and insider market knowledge. We’d be happy to discuss what your next move is and how we can help make that happen!

Kevin Costello – kevin.costello@cascadehassonsir.com 503.939.9801

Riley Costello -riley.costello@cascadehassonsir.com  971.322.6205