Summer severe weather in Central Kentucky is creating various problems including Power outages. Brittle trees may just increase concern.
Downed power lines are often caused by downed trees. Carrie Spry is the county extension agent for horticulture in Clark County. She said dead ash trees, victims of the emerald ash borer, come down on power lines out in rural areas.
“And then in your suburbs and in your city areas, any time a tree has disease it has the potential for more limb drop and so there are many diseases coming through for oaks and things like that. So, they have the potential to shed,” said Spry.
Spry noted there are also trees that naturally shed limbs like sycamores and maples. She added it’s just part of their tree nature to shed limbs throughout the summer.
Spry said she’s not aware of one particular tree disease being more prevalent right now.
“Not necessarily, I think I feel like we have seen more root disease over the last two or three years because of the unusual weather pattern which just leads to overall death to a tree or can lead to a tree uprooting easier, blowing over easier,” said Spry.
Although difficult to do over large acres of land in rural areas, Spry said homeowners can help by trimming out dead limbs.
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