The Best And Worst Trees For Withstanding Wind Damage

Almost any community can be subjected to high winds that can damage and even uproot trees. Limbs can break off, hitting power lines, your home or fence, or your neighbor's property. It can create a costly, sometimes dangerous, situation.

Checking your trees frequently for any signs of damage or disease can go a long way toward avoiding problems. But it's also important to choose trees that are predisposed to withstand damage from high winds. Whether you're building a new home and selecting new trees or you're replacing or adding to your existing trees, what and where you plant is important. Plant a sufficient distance away from the house in case trees come down at some point, and allow enough room to take into account the trees' growth.

Consider the following list of good and less-desirable choices.

The best

Blackgum

  • Why it's wind-resistant: Deep roots.
  • Other selling points: Gorgeous fall foliage, high shade tolerance, fire resistant, flooding tolerant.

Longleaf pine

  • Why it's wind resistant: Deep roots. Better able to resist even hurricane-force winds than other pines.
  • Other selling points: Great for wildlife, resistant to fire, insect and disease.

Cypress

  • Why it's wind resistant: Sparse crown and limber foliage.
  • Other selling points: fast growing, large number of varieties suitable for almost any climate and habitat.

Live Oak

  • Why it's wind resistant: Deep roots.
  • Other selling points: Great longevity, huge canopies.

Black Walnut

  • Why it's wind resistant: Flexible stems, extensive roots.
  • Other selling points: Produces nuts, helps prevent erosion, seems to encourage grass growth.

Gingko

  • Why it's wind resistant: Deep roots.
  • Other selling points: Low maintenance, drought tolerant, good longevity, grows quickly, beautiful autumn color, virtually pest free.

Holly

  • Why it's wind resistant: Strong, flexible branches that aren't brittle.
  • Other selling points: Long life span, vivid colored fruit, interesting foliage, drought resistant.

Serviceberry

  • Why it's wind resistant: Strong wood.
  • Other selling points: Beautiful autumnal color, pretty flowers, drought tolerant, frost-hardy.

Crepe Myrtle

  • Why it's wind resistant: Flexible stems bend and sway without breaking.
  • Other selling points: Autumn color, fast growing, long life span, disease resistant, drought resistant.

The not-so-good

Ash

  • Tall, shallow roots.

Cottonwood

  • Brittle wood, trunk has little taper, tall, shallow roots.

Dogwood

  • Easily uprooted, shallow roots.

Water Oak

  • Shallow roots.

Pecan

  • Brittle wood, shallow roots.

Most Pines

  • Tall, trunk has little taper.

Magnolia

  • Heavy, wind-catching foliage.

Beech

  • Heavy, wind-catching foliage.

Bradford Pear

  • Many branches coming out from the same location.

Red Maple

  • Shallow roots.

Silver Maple

  • Soft wood strength.

Sweetbay

  • Shallow roots.

Green and White Ash

  • Narrow crotches that are less structurally sound than wider angles, plus many branches coming out of the same location.

Choosing the right trees can help protect your landscaping against wind damage. For more recommendations and tips, contact a tree service to find out what will work best in your area or visit sites like http://treesculptors.com.


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