Question: What do I do about strong winds during growing season?

Answer: New trees and large shrubs should be carefully staked to keep them rigidly in place. Keep lines taut, and use 3 or 4 stakes. Cushion trunks to prevent damage of rubbing.

Mature trees may lose limbs during wind storms. Cabling allows branches to counter-brace one another. It is a procedure probably best left to professional arborists.

Declining trees can actually topple during high winds. Since they can do significant damage in that process, keep a close eye on all your trees’ vigor. Periodic check-ups from a certified arborist might be in order. Watch closely, for example, for Bradford pear (and other ornamental pears) trunks to split due to their weak branching structure.