Caring for Your Trees After a Storm: A Guide to Recovery and Care
Storms and hurricanes can wreak havoc on gardens, and for tree lovers, seeing the damage to carefully tended pleached trees can be heart-wrenching. At Just Pleachy, we understand the distress this can cause and are here to guide you through what to do after severe weather. Whether your trees stood firm or suffered damage, this guide will help you assess and care for them, starting with the most challenging scenarios.
Common Problems and How to Address Them
1. Snapped Clear Stems
- Act Quickly: Align the broken stem as best as possible.
- Secure the Break: Use tree grafting wax to seal the wound and grafting tape to hold it in place. For extra strength, encase the repair with metal wire or strong ties (available online or at garden centres).
- Keep Everything Crossed: Even with the best care, recovery is not guaranteed. Look for signs of new growth in spring as a positive sign and hope Mother Nature is on your side.
2. Snapped Bamboo Canes or Frames
- Replace and Secure: Bamboo canes are readily available at most garden centres and are easy to replace. Use small black zip ties to secure them—our tried-and-tested method at the nursery.
3. Loose or Uprooted Trees or Stakes
- Reposition the Tree: Straighten the tree and tamp down the soil around its roots to secure it.
- Re-anchor Stakes: Drive stakes firmly back into the ground and secure the ties snugly but not too tight, allowing for natural movement.
4. Flooded or Waterlogged Roots
- Allow the Water to Drain: Adjust your watering schedule or irrigation settings and avoid adding more water while the soil is saturated.
- Encourage Drainage: Check for compacted soil around the base and loosen it if possible to help improve drainage.
If You Have Been Badly Affected
You are not alone. We will do everything we can to help you save your trees, but if replacement becomes necessary, we are here to support you. As a gesture of goodwill, we are offering a discount on replacement trees previously purchased from us that were lost to adverse weather (at the manager's discretion and delivery fees may apply). If you reorder with us, we will ensure any new trees match the bamboo frame style of your existing ones, keeping your garden looking its best. We understand how frustrating losing much-loved trees to adverse weather can be.
