Protect Your Home And Property From Termite Damaged Palm Trees This Storm Season

If you live in a state or location in the United States that experiences strong seasonal storms, take action now to protect your home from falling palm trees. Some communities experience expensive damages when severe storms uproot and knock trees over onto their homes, properties and vehicles. Fallen trees not only wreak havoc on other structures, they can also cause great harm to people and pets if they knock down power lines and other electrical lines. One of the things you can do is inspect your trees for problems that make them vulnerable to seasonal storms, including termite damage. Here's what you look for in your palm trees and what you can do to protect your home and property this storm season.

What Should You Look For in Your Trees?

Termites don't just infest and destroy homes, the insects can also attack the barks of trees and eventually their trunks and limbs. Termite damage isn't always seen with the naked eye. Much of the damage occurs inside the trees' barks. But with the right tips, you can locate termite damage in your trees now. 

First, look around the bases of your trees for mud tubes. Mud tubes are brown or gray "growths" along the base of the trees and roots of the trees. The growths or tubes may appear grainy and thick in texture. The tubes may even look similar to clumpy brown sugar. If you poke at the tubes with a stick, you may reveal the termites traveling inside them. You can also pull pieces of mud tubes away from the barks to see if there's pest damage in the trunks. The wood will appear pale yellow or white in color. You might even notice holes or tunnels in the wood as the termites eat and burrow through it.

You can take steps to protect your home and property from termite damaged trees now.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Home and Property?

One of the things you can do is hire a landscaper to examine your trees to see if you should remove or repair them. If your trees have substantial pest damage, such as hollow trunks, they can fall during heavy storms. Removing the trees may help protect your home from termite infestations in the future and possible storm damage during the season.

If you decide to repair the trees, a contractor may treat them with pesticides and other methods. Trimming away damaged branches and limbs may be options for you as well. For trees with weakened trunks, a contractor may stabilize them with braces and other devices that create additional support around the bases. 

For more information about termite damaged trees, seasonal storms, and tree removal, contact a landscape contractor today.