In the Garden
Ralph Purkhiser, Purdue University Master Gardener
The weather was not very cooperative, but I would like to thank everyone who made it out to help me celebrate the 100th anniversary of my family’s gardening on Sandhill. I appreciate the visits, the cards and the gifts I received. We’ll do this again in another 100 years. Of course, it you did not make it, you are always welcome to stop in and see the gardens.
The remnants of Hurricane Helene ripped through southern Indiana last Friday. With the dry conditions from drought, the ground was quickly softened by the rains. This resulted in the up-rooting of top-heavy trees. Of course, the damage here was minimal when compared to the areas across the south that felt the brunt of Helene. Our prayers are with the people there.
If you had damage from the storms, clean up the debris as quickly as possible. When cutting broken branches, always cut just above the cuff of the branch, where it attaches to the larger branch or trunk. Do not use paint or sealants on the exposed cuts. If the cut is clean, it will begin healing on its own. While it is not the best time of the year for trimming, you may need to do some additional trimming to balance the weight of a tree canopy. Leaving a tree lop-sided could increase the likelihood of its toppling in a future storm. If the damage is extensive, or if the tree is near electric lines or structures, you should contact an arborist, who will have the knowledge to determine if a tree is able to recover from the damage.
The shrubs and perennials under the fallen trees may also have been damaged. In the case of herbaceous perennials, at this late time in the growing season, you should probably cut the plants back and clean up around them. They should rebound in the spring. Of course, fallen trees may result in a change in the amount of sun an area will receive. This may make it necessary to move shade-loving plants to another area and give you an opportunity to plant some sun-loving plants in their place. I would recommend waiting until spring to do this, unless you have specific spots in other shade gardens where there is room for the plants.
If you have a tree with a trunk still standing, but which has been badly damaged by the storm, you may consider pollarding the tree. This involves cutting the branches back to the trunk. If the tree survives, it will put on new growth. This growth will not be as strong as natural growth, but you may elect to shape it to get the lollipop look that one sees in European gardens. This is not recommended for healthy trees, but if one is damaged anyway, go ahead and have some fun with it. Another option is to leave the trunk standing and encouraging woodpeckers and other birds to visit. Some may consider such stick-ups unsightly, but bird lovers know the value of such trees. A garden is not just for people.