Forestry -
Ice Storm Damage
Don't Panic Over Ice Damage to Forestland Trees
For many Arkansans, especially forest landowners, concerned about tree damage
from a recent ice storm, the good news is that ice damage to trees is seldom as
bad as it looks, according to foresters for the Cooperative Extension Service,
University of Arkansas.
Forest landowners should evaluate whether or not a salvage harvest is
necessary before accepting a salvage price for their timber. Landowners hoping
to salvage their timber as pulpwood should be aware that pulpwood prices are
depressed.
The following categories of ice-damaged trees will survive for now and can
wait to be harvested later when the emergency salvage operations are over and
timber prices back to normal: 1) Trees with broken tops which still have four or
more living limbs remaining; 2) Tree leaning less than 45 degrees, and 3)
Windblown trees with roots still in the ground.
Young trees which are bent will often straighten by themselves.
Research in the Southeast shows that loblolly pine trees bent less than 40
degrees from vertical can recover completely within two years. Trees bent 40-60
degrees recovered but demonstrated varying amounts of crook and sweep. Only
trees bent more than 60 degrees did not recover enough to make acceptable
growing stock. Research in Arkansas also supports these research findings.
When only a few trees per acre are damaged, it may not be worth saving them
considering the low prices normally paid for salvaged trees. Salvage prices are
often lower not only because of the crisis situation with so many trees being
salvaged but also because ice or wind-damaged trees may have hidden internal
damage, such as ring shake, that make them useless for lumber.
Landowners can wait until the following growing season before they harvest to
provide the bent trees some time to recover.
Hardwood stands can also suffer damage from ice storms. Most mature hardwood
trees with 25-75 percent crown damage will survive, but the growth rate may be
reduced. Trees with greater than 75 percent crown damage will not survive,
except for ash, willow, basswood, and poplar. Although a tree is severely
damaged, it might take several years for that tree to decline and die.
Landowners should wait until the end of the first growing season after the
storm to decide which trees to harvest. Some trees might recover during this
time. Landowners interested in managing their hardwood stands for wildlife might
consider leaving some damaged or deteriorating trees to provide snags and cavity
trees for wildlife.
In immature and planted hardwood stands, trees bent more than 60 degrees are
not likely to straighten and can be cut down. However, allow bent trees until
mid-summer to recover before taking action. Broken trees and bent trees can be
cut to the ground before they get their leaves in the spring to encourage
sprouting from the stumps.
It will take a few years before you will be able to determine the extent of
the damage caused by a major ice storm. During this time, keep a close eye on
the forest. Many different stresses, such as attacks from insects or diseases,
can combine to cause serious damage.
For more help, landowners can call on their local Arkansas Forestry
Commission office, Cooperative Extension Office, area forest consultants, and
other forest management professionals for advice.
Although a landowner might not know just when an ice storm will strike, they
can minimize some damage in older stands through appropriate forest management
including periodic thinning and harvesting.
Additional information about forest management can be found at your
county Extension office, the Arkansas Forest Commission, and the Arkansas
Forestry Association.
Contact: Tamara Walkingstick (501) 671-2346.
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