Trees That Laugh in the Face of Wind: Which Trees Fair Best in High Winds?

Australia is no stranger to powerful storms, especially between November and April. In fact, the strongest gust of wind ever recorded, at 408km per hour, swept across a tiny island off the north-west coast of Australia, on the 10th of April 1996. Though your trees are unlikely to encounter wind speeds of that strength, they may still be at risk in the storms to come.

When a tree falls in a forest, there is no one there to see it. But when a tree falls in your yard, it could put lives at risk and do severe damage to the surrounding area. Are you worried that your trees might not make it in the coming storms, or are you planning on planting a tree that can withstand powerful winds?

Here are several attributes that give trees a better chance of survival in high winds:

Trees With Strong Root Systems

When a mature tree's root system has room to spread out, it stands a much greater chance of withstanding high winds. The root system, which is often much larger than the tree's canopy, acts as an anchor to keep the tree from uprooting during a storm. However, if a tree has had roots removed or cut and is surrounded by concrete, its root system may not be adequate to keep the tree anchored in a storm.

Slow Growing Trees

The wood of slow-growing trees is denser, and so is better equipped to deal with strong winds. If your trees are fast-growing shade trees such as an African mahogany or a golden flame tree, they are especially susceptible to being blown over by strong winds.

Trees with Light Canopies

The lighter a tree's canopy, the better its chances of surviving a powerful storm. A well-pruned tree with small leaves will have a much lighter top than a tree with a dense canopy. On the other hand, trees that are weighed down by nuts or coconuts like palm trees or queen palms, are top heavy and will not withstand strong winds.

Trees in Bunches

A group of trees standing within ten feet of each other will stand a much better chance of survival than one or two single trees. This is because together, the trees literally have each other's backs, in that their canopies share the powerful gusts of wind, dampening their effect.

Are your trees ready to withstand the coming high winds? If you aren't sure of the answer, call an arborist. They'll be able to assess your trees' chances of survival and offer recommendations for improving those chances. Contact a tree removal service for more information and assistance. 

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