The storm damage was widespread and severe. Trees and property in Mapleton Township, Wellesley Township and other areas of Wellington County and Waterloo Region were hard hit by the April 12 ice storm. Limbs were broken off trees on streets and in yards. Trees lining the edges of woodlots have exposed wounds. Cars, houses, sheds, barns and power lines also fell victim to the storm’s wrath.
But why did some trees fail and others didn’t?
It’s hard to believe that a small coating of ice can be heavy enough to take down huge, healthy trees or break off their largest limbs. But not all trees are equal in their ability to withstand an ice storm. In fact, some of the trees planted on our yards are often the most susceptible to storm damage.
What are the characteristics that you consider when picking a tree for your yard or farm? Perhaps you consider size, growth rate, shade tolerance. Does it produces fruit or sap? Does it have nice flowers and leaf colour or does it provide a good windbreak? What about its ability to withstand severe weather?
Usually we pick trees that are easily maintained and have fast growth rates. For these reasons, soft maples have been planted somewhat over-zealously on yards and streets. Soft maple is an excellent tree for planting along creeks, on the farm, or on yards far away from buildings, but as we saw this spring, it can be prone to ice and wind damage.
You may have also noticed that birch, ash, willow and poplar trees were hit particularly hard by the storm, yet many of the oak and sugar maples (hard maple) seemed to be unscathed. This is because these species are all fast-growing trees with softer wood than their slower growing counterparts, the sugar maple and oak. These sometimes brittle trees also tend to develop weak V-shaped crotches that make them vulnerable to splitting apart under the weight of ice or during strong winds.
Every tree species has its own qualities. Soft maples, for example, are nice looking shade trees that can quickly grow to a large size, and adapt easily to different soil types. However, they can also pose a threat to property because of their large size and brittle wood. Sugar maple’s qualities include strong wood, beautiful fall colour and an ability to produce maple syrup, but its downsides include a much slower growth rate and sensitivity to wet or compacted soils and road salts.
Anyone who saw or experienced the damage to trees and property during the April ice storm can truly appreciate the importance of putting the right trees in the right places.
If you own more than 2.5 acres and would like to have a forestry specialist develop a planting plan with you for your property, contact Mark Funk at 519-621-2763 ext. 2259 or mfunk@grandriver.ca. Landowners in Wellington can access free trees through the Green Legacy Program.
submitted by Mark Funk Trees for Mapleton forester
