WATCH: Many trees are showing stress after months of heat and drought and they could be the first to come down in the coming storm.
Tree removal companies were getting calls before Thursday’s storm to remove dead or dying trees that could be a hazard when the high winds and heavy rains hit.
The forests have a lot more dead and dry trees now because of the heat and drought Vancouver Island has experienced the last few summers, meaning storms like the one that’s coming could take down more trees than normal.
“Yes we’ve seen increased periods of drought over the last three or four years and it’s definitely affecting the most sensitive species of trees,” said Precision Tree Services arborist James Flawith.
“You’ll see it in maples and cedars where you’ll get a yellowing of the foliage so the scales, the needles and the leaves will be yellowing and will actually fall off as its dying.”
The trees are weaker and more susceptible to failure in extreme conditions. But each species of tree fills in a different way.
“Hemlocks will fail anywhere, Douglas firs lose their top, alders maples and cottonwood fail, you get into those fast-growing species and it could be in a number of places,” said Flawith.
He says people should assess the health of their trees on the property before a storm or call an arborist to do it.
Dean Stoltz
