Tree recovery could take a long time in areas hit by ice storm

SIKESTON — In the 15 years David Bizzell has lived in his Sikeston home, he's never been able to see the city's water tower due to the trees in his yard. After the recent winter storm, Bizzell now has a clear view of the tower, which is about five blocks from his house, he said.

"This storm hit every variety of tree there is, and it could take anywhere from one to 10 years to get the trees back to looking acceptable," Bizzell said.

Nearly every tree in Charleston, home of the annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival, was also damaged.

"The bigger trees were what were hit most because they're so top-heavy. I'm an eternal optimist, and I think the dogwoods will leaf out," said Claudia Arington, executive director of Charleston Chamber of Commerce. A company has been hired to pick up the debris in town, Arington said.

This year's festival is set for April 16-19, but Arington thinks the town will be in good shape for the event that draws thousands from all over the country. "We've got two full months to get things back in order," Arington said. "We've been through ice storms, tornadoes and a hard freeze before, and when dealing with Mother Nature, you just have to take the blows as they come."

In the meantime, Bizzell, who owns Bizzell Nursery Co. in Sikeston, said there are things homeowners can do to help their trees get back on the road to recovery. "Don't get in a hurry. Take your time and be patient. The trees have been stressed enough," Bizzell said.

Take the broken and hanging limbs and get rid of them. Cut off stubs and then let the tree sit for a couple of years. It's important to remove stub cuts because they are a means of food for organisms that start rot and cankers in trees. "Once trees have sat, then you'll know if they need to be removed or can survive. Over that two-year period, you'll also know and have a good idea of any follow-up pruning that needs to take place," Bizzell said.

Homeowners who choose to prune their own trees should make sure their saws and tools are sharp and clean, Bizzell said. If they've have never used a chainsaw or don't use one often, they should be careful because different loads of limbs can cause kickback, he said.

"It's very dangerous work. Watch for overhead limbs that can blow in the wind," Bizzell said.

Wear safety glasses when sawing limbs and also hearing protection when using a chainsaw, Bizzell said.

Trees that are bent but not broken can be restaked and tied off after temperatures have been above freezing for a few days, Bizzell said.

Follow-up tree care is also important and consists of a regimen of spraying, fertilizing and watering.

"That's the key to bringing trees back and getting them to have a vigorous root system," Bizzell said.

The worst thing anyone can do is "top" a tree, or cut back all of a tree's branches, Bizzell said.

"Unfortunately, the trees have been topped by nature from this storm, and we are going to have to deal with issues from this over the life of that tree because we didn't have a choice to top it," Bizzell said.

A big lesson to be learned from the winter storm is not to plant trees in or around power lines or utility easements, Bizzell said. Be aware of the size of trees you're planting around a house to minimize structural or roof damage, he said.

Julie Killion of Sikeston, a master gardener for the University of Missouri Extension, said she thinks it's important for homeowners to have knowledge of how to assess a damaged tree.

"If they can have a little bit of knowledge, then they can know what to do about this tree or that tree," Killion said.

When homeowners are in doubt about something, they should contact the nursery company of their choice, Bizzell said.

Trees are going to look thin and the foliage will be sparse for some time, Bizzell said. As sprouting takes place in tree canopies, thicker growth will be seen. Trees will come back and begin to take shape.

"It's going to be different for a while," Bizzell said. "... I just think we have to watch the trees over the next couple years to see how they come back and take shape."