Tom MacCubbin, gardening columnist for the Orlando Sentinel, recommends checking for the following symptoms that can indicate trees may be weakened and not able to withstand severe storms:
- Look for “V” angles where trunks come together. These are weak points that may split apart during storms.
- Check for wounds that may go deep into the tree and indicate weaker areas of trunks and limbs.
- Try to spot dead or declining limbs that should be removed.
- Look for bleeding wounds, which may be an indication that portions of the tree are diseased or infested with insects.
- Look for squirrel holes in the trunks near the ground, as these may indicate the trunk is rotting.
