Storms shape the calendar
Huntsville's tree care calendar follows its storm calendar. On April 27, 2011, tornadoes hit Madison County six times in one day. NOAA's data for the Huntsville/Madison station lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph. Winter brings rarer but heavy loads: on February 25, 2015, 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across most of north Alabama. Trees with weak structure fail first. This checklist helps you find and fix weak points before the next event.
January and February: dormant season
- Look at the structure of each large tree while it is bare: multiple leaders, tight forks with included bark, dead branches and crossing limbs.
- Schedule structural pruning for trees near the house. Dormant pruning is good for many species and easy to plan.
- After snow or ice, gently brush snow off small trees from below; do not shake heavily loaded limbs.
March to May: storm season
- Walk the yard after every severe storm. Look for cracked trunks, split forks, hanging limbs and soil heaved at the base, which can mean roots have pulled.
- Mark hazards and keep people away until a professional has looked.
- Plant new trees early in spring so they root before summer heat.
June to August: heat and drought
- Water young trees deeply during dry weeks.
- Watch for thinning canopies, leaf scorch or bark peeling, which can signal stress or disease.
- Keep mower and string trimmer damage off trunks with a mulch ring.
September to December: fall check
- Inspect again after leaf drop, when deadwood is easy to spot.
- Plant trees in fall, a good season for root growth in north Alabama.
- Plan winter pruning with an arborist.
Hiring a tree business in Alabama
In Alabama, businesses that do and solicit tree surgery need a Horticulture Professional Services License from the Department of Agriculture and Industries, renewed each year, with an operator who has passed the commercial applicator exam for the category. Ask for the license, look it up, and get a written scope that names each tree, each cut and how debris and stumps will be handled.
After a storm
Storm-chasing tree crews arrive quickly after big events. Avoid paying large deposits in cash, and ask for the state license before work starts. If a tree is on your house, call your insurer, photograph the damage and get a written estimate.
Keep a tree record
Record species, planting dates and any pruning or treatment. When a tree starts to decline, the history helps an arborist decide whether to treat, prune or remove it.
Roots and construction
Trees often decline years after nearby construction. Before a driveway, addition or utility trench goes in, ask a contractor to stay outside the root zone where possible and to cut roots cleanly rather than tearing them. Avoid parking equipment or piling soil under the canopy.