This afternoon is a great time to clean up downed trees and branches, as well as any other household debris, from yesterday. If these items are not secured or cleared today, they are likely to become projectiles and hazards tomorrow when dangerous winds are expected to return. As a reminder, clean up on private property is the responsibility of property owners and residents.
We want you to be safe!
• Check for hazards. Before approaching a tree, examine your surroundings to avoid contacting downed utility lines or standing under broken, hanging branches. Contact your utility company if a tree is affecting power or other utility lines.
• Contact your local government, if necessary. Trees between the street and a city/town sidewalk may be the responsibility of their crews. In the City of Boulder, for example, city crews will pick up public trees in the Right of Way, such as sidewalks and medians. The city will pick up limbs from public property trees that are 10 inches in diameter and larger. If a limb from a public tree is less than 10 inches in diameter, community members should compost or appropriately dispose of these limbs.
• Assess the damage. If a tree is healthy overall and still possesses its leader (the main upward branch), most of its major limbs, and 50 percent or more of its crown, the chance is good for a complete recovery.
• Remove broken branches. This minimizes the risk of decay, insects or diseases entering the wound. Prune at the branch collar – the point where a branch joins a larger one – and be mindful of potential pent-up energy if the branch is twisted or bent.
• Don’t over-prune. With the loss of some branches, a tree may look unbalanced, but most trees quickly grow new foliage that hides bare areas.
• Don’t try to do it all yourself. If the job requires running a chainsaw overhead, sawing from a ladder, or removing large branches or entire trees, contact an insured, certified arborist.
For more information, including maps, please visit: www.boulderodm.gov
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