The Effects of Heavy Rains on Trees
Trees are renowned for being strong, but that doesn’t mean they can survive everything. After heavy rainfall, trees can fall victim to disease and infestation. That’s why ensuring your trees stay healthy through the inevitable Florida storm season is essential. Read on to learn more about the devastating effects of heavy rains on trees.
Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is a significant problem for trees, especially in the case of heavy rains. These issues occur when soil particles are removed from their original place by wind or water. Soil erosion can be caused naturally or artificially, but it often occurs due to human activity.
When you plant a tree in your yard, its roots will grow down into the soil and anchor that tree against strong winds and heavy rains. Without these natural anchors, a strong storm could knock over your entire yard if unchecked!
In addition to planting trees that have deep roots that can anchor themselves into the ground, there are other things you can do to prevent soil erosion:
- Mulch—Mulching around new plants protects against rainstorms and other extreme weather events. If you’re looking for an easy way to add some mulch around newly planted trees, try using fallen leaves as mulch instead! These will decompose over time while still providing nutrients for your plants; they’re free! And if they don’t decompose quickly enough? Just add more on top later once they’ve rotted away completely.
Foundation Damage
The effects of heavy rains on trees often lead to soil erosion, which can lead to foundation damage. As the soil is washed away, it may weaken the roots of your trees and cause them to lean or fall over. The moisture in heavy rain also causes tree roots to expand, increasing their size and surface area for absorption purposes. Trees with an extensive root system need more water than others; therefore, if you have many mature trees on your property, they will require watering after a heavy rainstorm to maintain their health.
Leaning and Falling Trees
A leaning and falling tree is a sign of a poor root system. If the tree is leaning, its root system isn’t as strong as it should be. This could be because the tree has been planted in a shady area and hasn’t been able to grow well enough to support itself; or, if you’re planting new trees, you may have given them too much water at first (this causes roots to grow more than they should). It’s also possibly due to weak trunk growth/strength. The trunk holds up your beautiful tree and keeps it upright, so if this part of your plant is weak or unhealthy, it may also begin to lean over time.
Soil Moisture
Soil moisture is an essential factor in healthy tree growth. This can be measured by the moisture tension and the force of attraction between water and soil particles. The amount of water in the soil affects this force; when there’s little or no water present, a lot of energy must be used to pull water molecules into the solution (that is, make them dissociate).
However, when there’s more than enough water present in a given area—whether it’s a puddle or an entire lake—it can be difficult for any additional molecules to enter the solution because they have many pathways already available to them; this leads to high surface tension at those points where droplets form on leaves or stem as they absorb moisture from their surroundings.
Heavy Rains Have Adverse Effects on Trees
Heavy rains can harm the health of your trees. Rainfall can cause soil erosion and the loss of topsoil due to water flow or wind. Heavy rains can also cause foundation damage and leaning or falling trees, especially when the ground is saturated with water. This can lead to root rot and disease in your tree if it is not cared for properly.
When there is too much moisture in the soil surrounding your trees, this may cause them to die due to fungal diseases caused by excess moisture around their roots, as well as many other issues.
If you have any questions about the health of your trees after a storm, call us at SB Tree Service; We’ll be happy to help!