Document text
Winter returns to valley floor Photo by Bob Pennell Roosevelt Elementary School kindergartner Brian Harthun tosses a snowball at fourth-grader Emily Burns on Queen Anne Street. Weighed down by snow, tree branches fell onto the nearby pickup truck. Trees, shrubs might need a human touch If the snow has all your trees looking like weeping willows, there's not a lot you can do about it now, according to local arborists. The best way to avoid breaking branches and falling trees is a little preventive pruning, says John Kakouris of John's Pruning Service. "Trees and people aren't conditioned to this kind of storm," said Kakouris, who spent the day responding to homeowners concerned about branches interfering with electric and phone lines. A proper pruning will reduce the weight and stress level on a tree so it acts more like a fishing pole than a matchstick, says Pete Seda of The Arborist. "To blame (tree damage) on the weather is actually a cop-out," said Seda. "If it wasn't this storm, it would be another. Storms trigger it, but the damage is done by improper pruning." Seda says hiring a competent professional early in the tree's life or before the tree is 80 percent dead can actually save money. "You don't want to do emergency work ... usually major amputation," said Seda. "With a five-minute pruning of a young tree, you can save thousands of dollars." The full impact of this storm and the heavy freezes of December won't be felt until this spring, when damage becomes more visible. "I think it will be a busy year," predicted Kakouris. He recommends that homeowners go out now and inspect their trees for damage, being careful not to touch any tree that may be in contact with a power line. Kakouris says small shrubs and hedges can benefit from a little tough love -- shaking their branches to lessen the snow load. When manicured bushes bend under the snow's weight, it can be very difficult to restore their shape. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA