3 Essential Tips to Clean Your Yard after a Big Storm
When Mother Nature hits in the form of a hurricane or even just a storm, your home, and in particular the outdoor, can be turned upside down. Many trees will fall, your shrubs and flowers will be scattered, and the outdoor furniture is blown away. If you are safe when the storm passes, the most logical thing to do will be to clean up the yard and restore the appearance of your landscape. Here are top the top three tips for post-storm cleanup.
Check Your Trees
Chances are there are a few trees with broken branches and some that fell completely. Removing the fallen trees should be the first step so that you can be able to see everything else down there and also because broken branches can be dangerous. Use a cutting tool and cut down any trees or branches hanging on for dear life and chop them into firewood. Any shrubs and flowers that took a hit should also be uprooted if they are too far gone. Call a tree expert if the affected trees are too big for your tool. Calling an expert could also be a safety precaution because the tree could have torn down electrical wires.
Clean the Drainage
It is normal for tree leaves, broken branches, and other forms of debris to collect in your gutters and drainage system after a storm. Be sure to remove all that debris from the gutters and drains so that water can start flowing. If water has pooled in the yard, use a shovel to redirect it into the drains. Check that the pipes are in good shape and there are no leaks particularly on those that were hit by falling branches or trees.
Remove Tree Stumps
After everything has been cleared, you will notice some very dangerous tree stumps from the cut or fallen trees. These are very dangerous as they can act as breeding grounds for insects. They can also trip someone and cause injuries. Tree stump grinding is the fastest and safest method to remove the unwanted stump. You can hire a grinder from a removal company. Other methods such as stump burning or the use of chemicals can be utilized; however, there are not as environmentally friendly as stump grinding as they release gases and chemicals into the atmosphere
Contact a tree specialist so that they can remove any unwanted trees that may have taken the hit after a storm. The arborist should also inspect the remaining trees to ensure that they are in good condition so that they don't pose a hazard in your home.